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TSM reverse sweeps GAM to survive major scare

Riot·5/3/2017, 11:18:10 PM·5 votes·22,038 views

Call it a delayed 3-0… Perhaps TSM was jetlagged, or maybe it took a couple games to adjust to the stage -- whatever the excuse, they survived and advanced at the expense of their fans’ blood pressure levels.

This is less a triumph and more an escape. For TSM to be on the brink of losing the set not just once but three times against the GIGABYTE Marines is difficult to fathom even after it happened. This was a Marines team that had to win its league in Vietnam, then the GPL regional championship, and then the Group Stage of the Play-In before even reaching TSM. Teams here wouldn’t even scrim them. So for GAM, every game on stage was a scrim. They were here just as much for practice as for glory.

And to be fair to the Marines, they were good at a lot of aspects of the game. GAM lulled TSM into their tempo for the first few games. TSM is a slow and methodical team when they play their style. It’s almost boring to watch them win. But the Marines pushed a hectic pace -- ganking and initiating whenever the opportunity presented itself. And sometimes even when it didn't. But once TSM slowed the games down, the Marines didn’t have enough of a grasp on how to win, even if their team fighting continued to be strong.

There are iterations of the TSM roster that may have folded to that pressure. Lived up to their reputation for choking on an international stage. So whatever speech they received between Games 2 and 3 should be recorded and replayed over and over -- perhaps before Game 1 next time, though. And now there are plenty of chances left for them to redeem themselves.

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Game 1 opened in true "Game-1-TSM" fashion as Svenskeren poked his head a little too deep into enemy territory, which allowed Levi to pick up first blood before the jungle creeps even spawned. From there, Levi’s Kha'Zix snowballed so hard it seemed to tilt both of the first matches in the Marines’ favor. This was combined with a strong Ziggs pick that allowed fast turret pushing and strong wave clear -- both things that help compensate for less refined macro play.

Beyond that, TSM’s solo laners in particular were expected to have a significant edge over their counterparts. But Optimus (mid) and Stark (top) held par if not better for the Marines. Part of this could be attributed to the enormous pressure that Levi exerted on the map, but it was clear Vietnam’s players weren’t going to fail on an individual level.

TSM got clobbered in Game 2 as the Marines clocked a win in under 30 minutes. Some big Gragas ults allowed Zed and Kha’zix to isolate targets in the mid game to let GAM push TSM right to the edge. TSM bounced back in Game 3 as every lane picked up a kill within the span of a minute to blow the game apart -- this was a revenge game if I’ve ever seen one.

And from there, you might expect the Marines to flop over, but they persevered and threatened to win both Game 4 and Game 5. This is a testament to their coaching and an iron demeanor that permeates through the entire team.

In Game 4, they knocked on TSM’s nexus turrets in a bit of an ill-advised overextension. They saw victory -- or maybe it was only the illusion of victory -- and they tried to seize it. I can’t blame them for making that sort of play. It’s easy to empathize with the moment. But if they’d slowed down a bit, they truly might have take the series.

But even that didn’t cause them to stumble. Game 5 saw them open with the same type of aggression from the rest of the set. And they traded blow for blow with TSM. But as the game progressed, the pace stalled, and it became an oddly lopsided even-gold game. GAM finally allowed Ivern to slip through the pick and ban phase, and TSM showed why it was banned. Shield after shield prevented any sort of engage from the Marines, which let TSM slowly choke the hope of upset to death.

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And now TSM advances to Rio de Janeiro, where they’ll face off against some of the best teams the world has to offer. The Marines, though, were perhaps a fiercer preview than they expected. A close call like this is probably a better experience for them than the expected sweep.

As for the Marines, they’ll look back on this as a big missed opportunity. It was a chance to place a historical stamp onto the professional League of Legends scene. But they should still walk away with their heads held high -- it was, after all, a very successful scrim. And they’ll have one more shot to qualify for Rio de Janeiro.

GAM faces the loser of tomorrow’s Best of 5 between the Flash Wolves and SuperMassive eSports on Saturday.


 

58 Comments

Dreampod5/4/2017, 2:20:25 AM34 votes

Thanks for the spoiler headline - really appreciated. Now I don't have to watch the games cause I know how they are going to end.

Seriously guys, you know better than putting such blatant outcome revealing headlines on the landing page for people coming to watch the games who didn't catch them live like those of us who have jobs, school, families, or just live in a different time zone, you know - the majority of the viewers.

Morgan Arc5/4/2017, 12:52:00 AM12 votes

I am going to be need of medical assistance if FW and SUP do as crazy of a series as this one.

Kal Vas Flam5/3/2017, 11:34:53 PM7 votes

I honestly give GAM credit I think they're a lot better than the average NA observer would recognize, but they're still garbo compared to the Koreans. We have no chance basically.

AlchemyOverlord5/4/2017, 2:12:42 AM6 votes

Despite being a C9 fan, I have to root for TSM out of NA pride (and also because C9 died for them to go to MSI :P ).

The series may have been closer than TSM and NA fans would've liked, but at least TSM is moving on. They fought hard and saw the series through to the end. Well played on their part.

And GG to the Marines because they put up one hell of a fight. Hopefully, they can advance to the Group stage as well and show everyone their close match with TSM wasn't just a fluke.

Fat Minh Slayer5/4/2017, 3:28:56 AM5 votes

It took TSM 5 games to beat GAM when GAM's region is 3 levels behind the NA LCS

Davredoo5/4/2017, 12:47:50 AM5 votes

As someone who, for the most part, likes TSM, this does not bode well for chances later in the tournament. They barely escaped against GAM (who threw game 4), and are not looking up to international standards. While TSM hype seems to be enough to get them through NA, don't think it's nearly enough to get through anyone else. Gulp

TrollFan015/3/2017, 11:46:05 PM4 votes

TSM is STILL giving their fans heart attacks lol. Seriously though guys, please stop. My heart hurts*[slayer-jinx-unamused]*

FlashNeko5/4/2017, 1:18:48 AM4 votes

On one hand, I want my region to do well.

On the other, I am a proud card carrying member of Team Anyone But TSM so MSI got a little less watchable after this.

Sneaky Fast5/4/2017, 2:37:30 PM4 votes

In NA LCS I don't root for TSM because I'm a sucker for underdogs. Here, however, every team not named SKT is the underdog so things change. As others have said, both teams deserve credit--GAM for fighting their guts out and TSM for hanging in and pulling it out. Kudos to both, and good luck to both.

TrollFan015/4/2017, 4:42:23 PM3 votes

TSM: Time for the reverse sweep! GAM: Nope- TSM: YUP!

Sharooz5/3/2017, 11:31:43 PM2 votes

GG TSM

Devalic5/3/2017, 11:47:45 PM2 votes

I feel bad for them, they need to go through so much while major region doesn't and I don't find it fair they don't get scrim.

Lindbloom5/9/2017, 10:12:27 PM1 votes

Yasuo

SciFi Scrivener5/4/2017, 11:39:49 AM1 votes

TSm looked like a team of RNG solo cue players in game 1. That was pathetic for the NA champs. Luckily they came together and played like they know what they are doing in games 3-5. I hope this wakes them up and they take the next round more seriously. Being NA champs means nothing on the national stage.

Spoo5/4/2017, 1:58:48 PM1 votes

Excuses aside, GAM played some really good League of Legends. Got to respect them for the performance they put in. I was shocked at how well they knew what they're strengths and weaknesses seemed to be and draft team comps around them. A bit more in the tank in terms of adjusting between games and I think they would have had it. Even then, except for game 3, I still think they were the better team.

Hats off GAM.

KazaLyn Shao5/4/2017, 4:00:28 PM1 votes

GAM is now renamed GAT, the Gigabyte Tardos. With victory within their hands and only a baron push away, GAT gets greedy and forgoes the baron, attempts a nexus push when TSM is spawning and loses 4 players AND the baron. Then they lose the game not a minute afterwards. GG GAT!

AlexanderMagnusI5/4/2017, 4:55:00 PM1 votes

I think we will have the rebirth of a meme this year! #TiltedSinceMSI

Thulious5/4/2017, 10:21:06 PM1 votes

I think this is important for TSM. Having this rough a time against a play in team. It sets them up to not be over confident. It really puts them on ground to improve and the early exposure to the tourney and patch puts them a bit ahead on some of the other teams. That and GAM played way different than most of the tourney will. They were 3x as aggressive as the average world contender. It'll help them remember to keep a level head and not play the game to other peoples styles. Imagine if they swept and didn't learn anything or grow. It would have ended worse if they swept.

PKThunder2475/5/2017, 12:44:32 AM1 votes

I was disappointed that GAM didn't pull it off. They threw pretty hard in Game 4 not going for baron and staying too long in TSM's base. Just shows TSM's vulnerability and that a team with slightly better execution will beat them. TSM goes into the group stage as the fifth best team and may see the Gigabyte marines again.

At this point though we all know it's a battle for who is second best. Personally, I'm expecting Flash Wolves to be the #2.

Toolmaker5/5/2017, 4:46:46 PM1 votes

One of the most exciting series I've seen. FW vs SUP one of the most boring.

RaininStormwake5/5/2017, 7:39:15 PM1 votes

I've been in competitive tournaments before and i've learned a few things from that.(not in league of legends though, but it still applies 100%) While it may have been annoying to watch this match, and pissed me off..I can also understand what the pressure is like playing competitively with so much on the line. You know if you perform badly you can lose your job, your region will hate on you, and most importantly you may be out of the tournament. I've only felt the pressure of not winning, and that was enough to prove to me that being in a competitive situation is stressful and makes people play differently. TSM is comfortable in NALCS, which is why they are able to perform well most of the time. MSI and Worlds they feel real pressure and are out of their comfort zone.. Korea is very conditioned and rarely feels this pressure I don't know how they do it. We can only hope as NA fans that they are able to compose themselves and play better.

BlueBilberry5/6/2017, 12:29:31 AM1 votes

Long story made short: One team (GAM) has to battle through a whole bunch of others. Stomps them. After going through all that, then, they are then placed against TSM, who didn't have to go through the gauntlet and had a chance to scout them and watch them in action.. GAM, to their credit, manage to take the first two. But the exhaustion and TSM's larger resource-base starts showing , when GAM makes some errors, which they probably would not have made if they didn't have to do the gauntlet run, in the remaining games in the series. To be absolutely honest, GAM was easily the better team of the two - but they had not much "left in the tank" by the time they faced TSM.