Samsung Galaxy's sweep over the reigning dynasty of SKT-T1
"If you play safe and keep folding, you will lose to SKT. Just boldly end it. When up two games, don't underestimate them." ~Ambition, SSG.
Samsung Galaxy beat the reigning three time World Champions, SKT-T1 last night in a best of 5 by sweeping them 3-0 in Beijing, China. As millions of people watched this historic event unfold, it was Samsung Galaxy who took the steps they needed to in order to win, by focusing their pressure on the top lane and finding the weak spot of Huni, taking advantage of the picks-and-bans phase, and by being able to out-rotate SKT to objectives, they have claimed their rightful title as the League of Legends World Champions. Let us take a journey through the steps that were made in order to make this possible.
We all know that when in picks and bans, that it is important to get the really impact-full champions off the playing field, this is without a doubt. These picks and bans helped set the stage for the games to follow. Samsung Galaxy focusing in game one on the aggressive top laner of Kennan even building him AD, blind picking Malzahar for locking down targets in team fights, and securing Zac to be able to abuse a lack of vision SKT places through the map. Having a lack of vision, SKT was unable to know that SSG was taking the first two dragons. With these picks, SSG was able to synergize their champions together to get objectives, keeping Peanut off the bot lane so Ruler and CoreJJ can get the first turret by having an item advantage. Through the match, Huni is kept in the top lane having to deal with the pressure from Kennan, not allowing him to join in the essential fights happening on the rest of the map. Samsung Galaxy cleanly take game one without dying once.
SSG in game two had the same mentality as they did in game one, they focused on the split pressure top lane in Gnar, Malzahar being blind picked once again, and Jarvan Lightshield The Fourth being picked up for Ambition. Now, on the flipside of the coin, SKT did not ban Malzahar, seeing the impact he had with him all game long in game one, instead they were more interested in banning out Galio, Shen and Zac, trying to minimize the "global" pressure that SSG would have, but let's be real, SKT should have banned Malzahar and tried to take their games focus into the mid lane to beat Crown and have Faker be able to rotate all game and help out the rest of his team, which we have seen all tournament long come from SKT. The analysts would call this SKT's "clutch factor", having Faker of champions that can rotate and pick out key targets were key to the previous series successes through the tournament, instead of trying to focus top lane on an under-performing Huni when hes pressured. These picks and pressure points make SSG have a 2-0 lead on SKT.
The third game, the Coup De Gras of SKT. This game was very fluid and extremely tense for the players, and for the spectators. SKT being 2-0 at this point bring in Blank to sub for Peanut, then shift their focus to an ADC focused team comp, putting Faker on a more supportive mid laner being Karma instead of picking up Syndra that was left unbanned by SSG, or leaving Galio unbanned in order to first, or maybe second pick him, and having Huni still trying to do the split push thing with Trundle, and being able to eat the stats of Cho'Gath in team fights. Unfortunately, to SKT's downfall, they did not ban Malzahar like they should have, having lost two games to it and seeing the impact Crown has on him and the chain CC that is used in order to pick off targets. Also instead of having Faker be extremely impact full in the game, SKT put all their eggs into the Bang basket, and don't get me wrong, all these players are great on their own accord and for what they excel at, but Bang isn't exactly known for being able to basically carry a team when they're down 2-0. The only reason that worked in the Semi Finals against RNG was because Faker was on a more impact full mid laner and was able to make the picks and keep RNG separated through the series. Although Blank is able to come in and get SKT in a favorable position early game, having killed CuVee and helping Faker kill Crown while shortly after, getting the first turret top lane, being able to take the first dragon. These steps helped SKT get into a more favorable position in-game in order to put them on the path to win. Even though they were behind 12 minutes in, Samsung Galaxy is able to make two key kills, killing Blank, then shortly after collapsing on Faker, this allows them to get pressure and push out lanes in order to take turrets and close the advantage gap, even with SKT having map control and the lead until the 30 minute mark. At 31 minutes in, SSG draws SKT out of the baron pit, allowing CuVee to rotate around mid and go through river bush. With the right focus, SSG kill 3 members of SKT and are able to push the advantage to SKT's base, almost taking it and winning the match, until they are too low to finish it off. Eventually, through decisive team work, correctly picking off the right people, and being able to abuse the picks they have, SSG is able to finish off SKT and win the World Championship 3-0.
SKT this year has been rocky to say the least. Losing in the LCK to Longzhu, almost losing at multiple points in the Worlds stage, and eventually losing the world Championship to SSG. I feel that this is in part of the inexperience in a competive environment from multiple team mates of SKT besides Faker and Wolf. Peanut, Huni, Blank, and Bang, hven't really synergized that well to the expectations set upon the team, unable to abuse lane pressure and unable to put the correct players ahead to make an impact in the matches. Last years Worlds, we saw the synergy that Bengi and Faker had with one another, being able to confidently put their players ahead, effectively being able to crush all competition and beating SSG in the finals. But to know how the team failed to win this year, we need to look back at how SKT have had these problems before. SKT crumbled before in Season 4, when they did not even make it to the worlds stage by not having the best synergy with losing Piglet, who was a real play maker for them in Season 3. Without the right adjustments to new talent and correctly making the right calls through the season, SKT had to re-build their bonds. SKT was back with a vengeance is season 5. Having theoretically rebuilt their team to focus on what wins, Faker and MarIn, ended up with an almost perfect run to the finals, winning the championship 17-1, only dropping the third game in the finals to KOO Tigers.
Samsung was able to take advantage of this poor synergy in order to sweep SKT 3-0 and claim their rightful place in League of Legends Worlds history as the only team to dethrone and beat SKT in an elimination match. "All hail the new kings" ~Phreak
~Andraxx
