LPL Week 1 Recap
Riot·6/16/2014, 8:00:04 PM·1 votes·1,366 views
2014 LPL Summer began this week with sister team faceoffs and the arrival of the first Korean players on Chinese teams World Elite, Invictus Gaming, and StarHorn Royal Club. Every single team returning from the Spring Split managed to find at least one win this week, while Young Glory and World Elite Academy, both fresh blood straight from LSPL, fell to the bottom of the standings with two losses each.
How Yin “Drug” Le can swap roles and names so often and still remain not just relevant, but exceptional is perhaps one of LPL’s greatest mysteries. This week he showed off powerful Lee Sin play, and the competition in LPL’s jungles is suddenly booming. The fact that Drug stood out on a list with inSec, ClearLove, and ActScene is praise enough, but OMG’s win this week was almost entirely on his shoulders.
We1less
Aside from the Korean pickups, We1less starting in the mid lane for LGD was perhaps the most anticipated roster change of the offseason, and he didn’t disappoint. Not only did he play an unexpected Diana, but he excelled, making flashy plays and taking risks that paid off in spades. LGD struggled in their second game against SHRC, but We1less still made an effort to set up plays for his team to come back. This transfer from Vici Gaming lived up to the hype.
CaoMei
Every once in a while, players who have been around for years remind you why they became popular in the first place. As the biggest vote-getter for China’s AllStars Challenge, CaoMei appeared to be riding some of his team’s coattails last split, but he rallied in his matches this week. WE’s new Korean players are fresh new additions, and communication issues were clear. Amidst the confusion, CaoMei was able to bring his team back with some immaculate teleport plays, drawing WE.A away from the Baron and taking an inhibitor in one fell swoop. With his long-time rival, PDD, retiring, it’s heartening to see CaoMei continue to put up strong performances.
After a lackluster performance at the end of last split and the signing of an AD carry to replace Styz who doesn’t even specialize in the role, most predicted LGD would start out at the bottom of the standings. Their dive composition played to LGD’s strengths and found them an even split against the impressive new StarHorn Royal Club lineup. LGD might not rise to the top again, but their dominating Game 1 performance constitutes an upset in itself.
After Tencent announced they would be expanding LPL slots to 12 to accommodate rising LSPL talent next season, fans had high hopes for World Elite Academy and Young Glory. Both teams started with strong leads in their first games against their sister teams, but struggled when winning lane failed to win them the game. Even against a scattered WE, WE.A could not take a victory. Some have cited recent drama as a distraction or a reason for a slump, but regardless, the disappointment was palpable for a team unused to losing in LSPL.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Invictus Gaming vs Young Glory Game 1 One of the greatest criticisms Chinese teams have faced on the international stage is for a lack of vision in their games, but both blue and purple wards dotted the map in this sister team clash. Ward placement, as expected, needs work, but steps to control vision were made. Zzitai shook up the meta by playing a mid lane Renekton, while iG’s new Korean addition debuted with Gragas in the top lane. Just in case there wasn’t enough excitement, iG managed to a comeback by picking up a Baron, flexing their veteran muscles, eventually pulling out the victory despite lacking a late game scaling composition. OMG vs Edward Gaming 2 As perhaps the most anticipated throwdown of the week, OMG vs Edward Gaming delivered, splitting the series 1-1 and giving EDG their first LPL game win over OMG. The even result furthers an intense rivalry, but the true story of Game 2 is Allen’s return to the jungle - now playing under the name Drug. His Lee Sin flew beautifully around the map as he set up the momentum for OMG to take swift towers and push out EDG. When he announced on his stream earlier in the week that he wasn’t afraid of EDG’s Clearlove, he certainly wasn’t lying. We’ll keep an eye on this jungle matchup in the weeks to come. StarHorn Royal Club vs LGD Gaming 1 In a match chock full of entertainment value, LGD Gaming surprised not just the audience but StarHorn Royal Club with their impressive performance. LGD’s persisting members from last split managed to snag all their signature champions, and they set up a dive composition with Riven, Lee Sin, Diana, and Thresh. Diana proved a strong pickup for LGD’s new mid laner, We1less, as he dove deep in teamfights and popped his Zhonya’s Hourglass while he waited for his team to catch up. Once this LGD team got a hold of a member of SHRC, they didn’t stop until he was removed from the Rift.TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Drug
How Yin “Drug” Le can swap roles and names so often and still remain not just relevant, but exceptional is perhaps one of LPL’s greatest mysteries. This week he showed off powerful Lee Sin play, and the competition in LPL’s jungles is suddenly booming. The fact that Drug stood out on a list with inSec, ClearLove, and ActScene is praise enough, but OMG’s win this week was almost entirely on his shoulders.
We1less
Aside from the Korean pickups, We1less starting in the mid lane for LGD was perhaps the most anticipated roster change of the offseason, and he didn’t disappoint. Not only did he play an unexpected Diana, but he excelled, making flashy plays and taking risks that paid off in spades. LGD struggled in their second game against SHRC, but We1less still made an effort to set up plays for his team to come back. This transfer from Vici Gaming lived up to the hype.
CaoMei
Every once in a while, players who have been around for years remind you why they became popular in the first place. As the biggest vote-getter for China’s AllStars Challenge, CaoMei appeared to be riding some of his team’s coattails last split, but he rallied in his matches this week. WE’s new Korean players are fresh new additions, and communication issues were clear. Amidst the confusion, CaoMei was able to bring his team back with some immaculate teleport plays, drawing WE.A away from the Baron and taking an inhibitor in one fell swoop. With his long-time rival, PDD, retiring, it’s heartening to see CaoMei continue to put up strong performances.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
LGD Gaming executes a string of flawless dives
After a lackluster performance at the end of last split and the signing of an AD carry to replace Styz who doesn’t even specialize in the role, most predicted LGD would start out at the bottom of the standings. Their dive composition played to LGD’s strengths and found them an even split against the impressive new StarHorn Royal Club lineup. LGD might not rise to the top again, but their dominating Game 1 performance constitutes an upset in itself.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WEEK
LSPL hopefuls fail to win a single game
After Tencent announced they would be expanding LPL slots to 12 to accommodate rising LSPL talent next season, fans had high hopes for World Elite Academy and Young Glory. Both teams started with strong leads in their first games against their sister teams, but struggled when winning lane failed to win them the game. Even against a scattered WE, WE.A could not take a victory. Some have cited recent drama as a distraction or a reason for a slump, but regardless, the disappointment was palpable for a team unused to losing in LSPL.
