NA LCS Week 7 Preview
Riot·7/3/2014, 8:17:51 PM·0 votes·2,040 views
America’s Independence Day begins with a blast this week. With 16 games, the deadlock at the top of North America is more volatile than ever. For weeks, it’s seemed like the teams on top—Dignitas, LMQ, Counter Logic Gaming, Cloud9, and Team SoloMid—have been engaging in a five-way standoff. But with each team playing four games this week, and with the top teams facing off in six separate matchups, it’s only a matter of time until somebody breaks into the lead. All of these teams have a legitimate claim to coming out on top, but with chances dwindling, there’s got to be one truth on every single player’s mind: there can only be one winner.
LMQ vs. Cloud9
When: Friday, July 4, 12pm PDT / 9pm CEST
If you want an exciting match, you won’t have to wait long—Week 7 leads off with one of the biggest matches of the week. Cloud9 are a game behind LMQ, but the defending champs are far from giving up without a fight. C9 have had a few rough weeks, and the loss to CompLexity last week was very uncharacteristic. But the team has proven that they’re in it for the long haul. Expect Meteos and company to hit this week hard, and an opening match against the strongest newcomer is bound to give them motivation to play their best.
LMQ, however, will also be coming on strong. The scariest challenger team has done more than made a splash—they’re dominating the deep end. At 9-5, they’re far from untouchable, but LMQ has kept up with all their competition. XiaoWeiXiao remains one of the biggest threats in the region, and when he does well, the team is all but guaranteed a win. If Cloud9 want to come out ahead, they’re going to have to find a way to shut him down.
Counter Logic Gaming vs. LMQ
When: Saturday, July 5, 5pm PDT / 2am CEST
Despite three 9-5 teams, this is the only match between them. CLG and LMQ are rightful powerhouses this split—one as the up-and-coming newcomer from a different country, the other a mainstay of the scene for years. And despite dissimilar circumstances, they are now tied in first alongside Dignitas. The parity at the top is striking: last week, LMQ lost to Dignitas, who lost to Counter Logic Gaming, who lost to Team SoloMid, who lost to LMQ. Confused yet?
The bottom line is that there can only be one winner. LMQ continue to grow and become more comfortable, and stand a high chance to finish well. But CLG have tenure on their side, and more than a few tricks up their sleeve. This matchup to launch the second half of the season should be epic.
Dignitas vs. Cloud9
When: Sunday, July 6, 4pm PDT / 1am CEST
This is another big matchup between old and new. Dignitas are one of the oldest esports teams in North America. But Cloud9’s recent launch and almost immediate success has left the older teams struggling to catch up. Dignitas, however, bit the bullet and made big changes in bringing on part of Team Coast and sending Scarra to the coach position. Now, the team is playing better than ever, and Shiphtur is having a breakout season.
True, Cloud9 are the defending champions. But a game behind a three-way tie puts them at fourth place, and the effort to catch up to the leaders seems to be wearing the team thin. Another loss to a team like CompLexity could break the doors wide open. With TSM waiting on the wings for them to slip up, pressure has never been higher for Cloud9. However, as with their recent trip to All-Stars, this team flourishes under a challenge, and the rest of North America has stepped up in a major way to give them exactly that. If Cloud9 can’t win here, they’re only getting what they spend the last two splits asking for—real competition. But with a season on the line, Cloud9 won’t give up so easily. Expect this matchup to be one of the best of the weekend.
Counter Logic Gaming vs. LMQ
When: Saturday, July 5, 5pm PDT / 2am CEST
Despite three 9-5 teams, this is the only match between them. CLG and LMQ are rightful powerhouses this split—one as the up-and-coming newcomer from a different country, the other a mainstay of the scene for years. And despite dissimilar circumstances, they are now tied in first alongside Dignitas. The parity at the top is striking: last week, LMQ lost to Dignitas, who lost to Counter Logic Gaming, who lost to Team SoloMid, who lost to LMQ. Confused yet?
The bottom line is that there can only be one winner. LMQ continue to grow and become more comfortable, and stand a high chance to finish well. But CLG have tenure on their side, and more than a few tricks up their sleeve. This matchup to launch the second half of the season should be epic.
Dignitas vs. Cloud9
When: Sunday, July 6, 4pm PDT / 1am CEST
This is another big matchup between old and new. Dignitas are one of the oldest esports teams in North America. But Cloud9’s recent launch and almost immediate success has left the older teams struggling to catch up. Dignitas, however, bit the bullet and made big changes in bringing on part of Team Coast and sending Scarra to the coach position. Now, the team is playing better than ever, and Shiphtur is having a breakout season.
True, Cloud9 are the defending champions. But a game behind a three-way tie puts them at fourth place, and the effort to catch up to the leaders seems to be wearing the team thin. Another loss to a team like CompLexity could break the doors wide open. With TSM waiting on the wings for them to slip up, pressure has never been higher for Cloud9. However, as with their recent trip to All-Stars, this team flourishes under a challenge, and the rest of North America has stepped up in a major way to give them exactly that. If Cloud9 can’t win here, they’re only getting what they spend the last two splits asking for—real competition. But with a season on the line, Cloud9 won’t give up so easily. Expect this matchup to be one of the best of the weekend.
