Power Rankings - 3/3/2015

Last week, we predicted that there'd be a number of radical shifts at the top of Power Rankings, as many of the top Asian teams would meet the Lunar New Year by facing each other down. Unfortunately, the marquee matches that could have been game changing didn't live up to the hype. Most of the significant movement has taken place in the LCS regions, where slow-starting teams and once-underdogs have now ascended to among the elite. However the elite teams of the West still give us pause when compared to their Asian counterparts, especially in the face of some obvious weaknesses. Come see how we decided to order the teams this week.

Korea

1. GE Tigers (8-0) [16-2]
2. SKTelecom T1 (6-3) [13-8]
3. Jin Air Green Wings (5-3) [13-7]
4. CJ Entus (5-3) [10-9]
5. NaJin e-mFire (4-5) [11-11]
6. KT Rolster (2-6) [5-13]
7. Incredible Miracle (3-5) [7-11]
8. Samsung Galaxy (0-8) [2-16]

(Match Score) [Game Score] While CJ Entus had some difficulty practicing in the week leading up to their showdown versus SKT, they still looked unimpressive against the former Worlds champs. SKT further cemented their place as No. 2 in Korea behind the still-undefeated GE Tigers after victories against Najin and the aforementioned CJ. The middle of the pack will have some room in the coming week, however, as NaJin and CJ will faceoff. Meanwhile GE Tigers will get tested as they take on Korea's current No. 3, Jin Air Green Wings. Panel: Alex Manisier, Erik "DoA" Lonnquist, Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles, and Mike "Noctt" Huh

China

1. Edward Gaming (9-1-2)
2. OMG (6-0-5)
3. Snake (6-1-4)
4. LGD Gaming (5-3-4)
5. Vici Gaming (4-3-6)
6. Master3 (3-5-4)
7. Team King (3-6-4)
8. Invictus Gaming (5-4-3)
9. Star Horn Royal Club (3-6-3)
10. Gamtee (1-4-6)
11. Team WE (1-7-5)
12. Energy Pacemaker (1-7-4)

Record format is (W-L-T) The face off between OMG and EDG ended without real resolution (1-1 tie), but it did have some interesting effects. OMG brought on former mid lane MVP Xiyang in the support position and played San instead of Uzi at ADC in their win. Afterwards, OMG lost a fast sub-30 minute game using Uzi and Cloud in the bot lane. While the game didn't come down to just the position, it's clear that OMG is still trying to figure things out, while EDG looks to be among the most polished teams in the world. In the middle of the table, it seems that the Korean imports are finally making strides to blending with their teams. Both Dade on Master3 as well as DanDy and Mata on Vici look to be effectively communicating with their teammates (finally), and as a result those teams are making a push towards the top of the standings. We will see in the coming weeks if they are able to keep their momentum going. Panel: Barento "Raz" Mohammed, Michale "Drexxin" Lalor, and Ryanne "Froskurinn" Mohr.

North America

1. Team SoloMid (9-3)
2. Cloud9 (8-4)
3. Team Liquid (7-5)
4. Counter Logic Gaming (8-4)
5. Team Impulse (6-6)
6. Gravity (6-6)
7. Team8 (6-6)
8. Winterfox (5-7)
9. Team Dignitas (4-8)
10. Team Coast (1-11)

After a very slow start, Cloud9 is starting to find their form again -- they have won five of their last six games. Although only one of those games was against a team with a winning record, they have decimated the competition in absolute routs. Similarly, Team Liquid looks to be delivering on their preseason promise, thanks in large part to trading Piglet out at ADC. Keith's playstyle has allowed Team Liquid to unleash Quas in the top lane, who has been dominant. CLG, on the other hand, hasn't fared as well. After their showdown against TSM a few weeks ago, they haven't defeated any teams with a positive record, going 2-2 (perhaps living up to Dyrus' prediction). While they aren't yet in trouble, this isn't the same level of excellence we had come to expect from the squad. Their misplays in the late game have cost them and until they correct it, they have lost our confidence as a top-tier team. Panel: Cameron Gilbert, Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman, Taylor "Riot RoboTayCo" Cocke, Jason "Riot Jayway" Wai, Joshua "Riot Jatt" Leesman, and Frank "Riot Mirhi" Fields.

Europe

1. SK Gaming (9-3)
2. Fnatic (9-3)
3. H2K (8-4)
4. Gambit Gaming (7-5)
5. Unicorns of Love (6-6)
6. Copenhagen Wolves (6-6)
7. Elements (5-7)
8. Team ROCCAT (4-8)
9. Giants Gaming (4-8)
10. MeetYourMakers (2-10)

After looking like they might be the first team to complete an undefeated LCS season, SK Gaming now struggles to even maintain first place. We still see them as the best team on the backs of their superior mechanics and team play, but their vision control continues to be a problem. Fnatic on the other hand has started to make great strides as far as individual play, and their teamwork has improved week over week. With H2K and Gambit improving as well, Europe looks to have several very healthy teams on the upswing. Panel: Devin "PiraTechnics" Young, Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman, Taylor "Riot RoboTayCo" Cocke, Jason "Riot Jayway" Wai, and Frank "Riot Mirhi" Fields.

Taiwan

1. Yoe Flash Wolves (13-1)
2. Taipei Assassins (14-1)
3. Hong Kong Esports (9-5)
4. AHQ e-Sports Club (9-6)
5. Midnight Sun Esports (4-10)
6. Never Give Up (5-10)
7. Logitech Snipers (6-10)
8. Dream or Reality (0-17)

When HKE swapped out DinTer for Smurph, we thought it would be an improvement for the team overall because of getting a mechanically superior jungler. However, since they made the change, HKE's map movement and objective control has taken a hit, as it seems DinTer's influence in this regard was greater than we first realized. AHQ still struggles to hold itself among the Taiwanese elite, with the "ban Westdoor" strategy being near-universally adopted. Other teams are also catching on to his bruiser-mid strategies (Cho'Gath mid, really?). Panel: James "Obscurica" Chen and Chia "Reazony" Yu.

Brazil

1. INTZ e-Sports (5-0-2)
2. Keyd Stars (5-0-2)
3. CNB e-Sports Club (3-2-2)
4. paiN Gaming (2-0-5)
5. KaBuM! Black (1-2-4)
6. Dexterity Team (1-5-1)
7. KaBuM! Orange (1-4-2)
8. JAYOB e-Sports (0-5-2)

Record format is (W-L-T) The regular season of the CBLoL 2015 first split has ended, and INTZ e-Sports are the indisputable kings. Ending the seventh and final week of the round robin stage in style, INTZ overpowered a Vivo Fibra Keyd Stars team (which had given them problems in Week 3), in a best-of-one tiebreaker to determine the first seed in the playoffs. INTZ looks unstoppable right now, having shored up holes in their vision control and drafting. Meanwhile, in an intriguing turn of events, KaBuM! e-Sports Black defeated their sister team, the 2014 Brazilian Regional Champions, in another best-of-one tiebreaker to earn the last and final playoff spot. This is a monumental achievement for this team, considering that they began the season with a -4 point penalty due to a roster change. KaBuM! Orange joins JAYOB as another team that must fight through relegation to earn a spot in the next CBLoL split. Brazil's attention now turns to the upcoming quarterfinals on March 21, where Dexterity will face paiN Gaming and CNB e-Sports will take on KaBuM! Black. Written by Emily Rand Panel: Emily Rand

Japan

1. DetonatioN FocusMe (5-2)
2. DetonatioN RabbitFive (5-2)
3. 7th Heaven (5-2)
4. Rascal Jester (3-4)
5. Ozone Rampage (3-4)
6. Salvage Javelin (0-7)

Things didn't change much this week. The top three teams played the bottom three teams, and each game was a decisive, one-sided victory: No shred of the life Rascal Jester and Rampage showed last time. Two games now separate them from the top three. With another double-header next week and then only one more week to go, it's do-or-die time if they want a shot at playoffs and by extension, the Wild Card Invitational. Salvage Javelin is the only team out of the running entirely, guaranteed to fall down to the Survival Match. If they can pull themselves out of the slump and take home their first win, however, that could be all it takes to ruin someone's aspirations entirely. Written by Cameron Gilbert Panel: Cameron Gilbert

International

1. GE Tigers (8-0)
2. Edward Gaming (9-1-2)
3. SKTelecom T1 (6-3)
4. OMG (6-0-5)
5. Jin Air Green Wings (5-3)
6. CJ Entus (5-3)
7. Snake (6-1-4)
8. LGD Gaming (5-3-4)
9. Najin e-mFire (4-5)
10. Vici Gaming (4-3-6)
11. SK Gaming (9-3)
12. Fnatic (9-3)
13. Team SoloMid (9-3)
14. Cloud9 (8-4)
15. Yoe Flash Wolves (13-1)
16. Master3 (3-5-4)
17. Taipei Assassins (14-1)
18. KT Rolster (2-6)
19. H2K (8-4)
20. Team Liquid (7-5)

There wasn't a lot of movement here because of the lack of Asian games, but SK's fall certainly pushed them down in our mind after they proved they couldn't adapt when teams exploited their weaknesses. It's easy to imagine a lot of change after this week, given the number of marquee matchups in every region. Stay tuned to see the continued movement of the international landscape as we countdown to the IEM World Championship and the Mid Season Invitational. Let us know what you think of the rankings, write your own, and give us feedback on things to improve either on Twitter or in the comments below. Images courtesy of Inven, CGA, Garena, ESL, SANKO and INTZ e-Sports

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