LCS Spring Split Awards presented on PTL and LCS Finals

Riot·4/1/2015, 1:24:49 AM·0 votes·34,029 views
Bjergsen, XiaoWeiXiao, Froggen, Rekkles. Sometimes, a single player is so dominant in his region that we have to appreciate his greatness for what it is. As we delve into the LCS Playoffs, we'll be recognizing the achievements of our pro players from during the Spring Split. This season we are giving away three awards:
  • Best Coach - presented on PTL Wednesday, April 1
  • Outstanding Rookie - presented on PTL Wednesday, April 8
  • Most Valuable Player - Presented at the LCS Spring Finals on Sunday, April 19
Curious about our methodology? The Spring Split awards were determined by a panel of LCS casters, members of broadcast and content teams, writers, and the teams themselves. Panelists submitted ballots with their the top four choices for each category, and each vote was weighted based on the order. Check back here each week to see a summary of the winners and runner-ups for each category.

North America

Best Coach: Yoonsup "Locodoco" Choi Runner Ups:
  • William "Scarra" Li
  • Sang-chul "Fly" Kim
  • Charlie Lipsie
Outstanding Rookie: Lucas "Santorin" Larsen Runner Ups:
  • Yoon Jae "Rush" Lee
  • Lae-Young "Keane" Jang
  • Braeden "Porpoise" Schwark
Most Valuable Player: Soren "Bjergsen" Bjerg Runner Ups
  • Zachary "Sneaky" Scuderi
  • Zaqueri "Aphromoo" Black
  • Jang-sik "Lustboy" Ham

Europe

Best Coach: Neil "Pr0lly" Hammad Runner Ups:
  • Luis "Deilor" Sevilla Petit
  • Jordan "Leviathan" Thwaites
  • Karl "Dentist" Krey
Outstanding Rookie: Seung-hoon "Huni" Heo Runner Ups:
  • Fabian "Febiven" Diepstraten
  • Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage
  • Hamphus "Fox" Myhre
Most Valuable Player: Konstantinos "FORG1VENGRE" Tzortziou Runner Ups
  • Bora "YellOwStaR" Kim
  • Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage
  • Seung-hoon "Huni" Heo
Who do you think are the best coaches, players, and rookies in the NA and EU LCS? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments below. Frank Fields is a Senior Editor for Riot Games' Esports Web Content team. You'll find him missing flash charms and trying to get carried in Diamond... or on Twitter where he'd love to talk to you about esports.

80 Comments

Nightfox Nirvana4/1/2015, 2:53:14 AM25 votes

My choices for each award... EU Coach: Prolly (H2K). Without a doubt, this HAS to go to Prolly. Dude took this team and made them look like superstars and veterans of the EU LCS. Plus he gets some bonus points in my book for always looking so professional by being in a suit on stage. :P Rookie: Huni (Fnatic). I think for maybe the first week, first two at most of the Spring Split, people didn't think Fnatic were going to be even close to the Fnatic they were with Peke, Soaz, and Cyanide there (am I missing anybody...? hmm... I don't think so... Trundle ). In comes the new Fnatic, with YellowStar being ever the solid rock for the team. Huni's just been this unknown playmaker, a great player throughout the game, start to finish, and has gone and showed that top may be an island to many still, but that doesn't mean you can't carry from up there. MVP: Honestly, I can't really say for certain who will come away with the award this split, it could be a few of the players from Fnatic (Huni, Febiven, Steeelback)...but my choice is actually going to be FORG1VENGRE (SK Gaming). Comes back from previously questionable career (if memory serves, he was pretty toxic and unprofessional awhile back), to this calm, collected dude who fills the ADC slot on an SK Gaming team that, in my opinion, looked shaky at the end of last year. Already shown he's still the king of CS amongst ADCs, made tons of solid plays throughout the split, and was literally UNKILLABLE for the first few weeks of this spring split.

NA Coach: LocoDoco (TSM). I can't really say that anybody was particularly spectacular this split in NA, though a few options are obvious (Scarra with CLG is the other frontrunner, it's pretty clear). But given that Loco was able to take TSM to the top of the NA standings and keep them there (heck, everybody's loved seeing the "classic rivalry" come back to NA between CLG and TSM, the chants have never sounded louder), even with a new jungler coming in after Amazing left during this last offseason, he gets the vote in my mind. Rookie: ???. I'm going to probably get flak for this, but I can't honestly pick one out. I'm not somebody who's been around personally since the start of League, and I don't know who's been in the LCS since early on and who hasn't (I mean, I've watched some of the early years of LCS videos from YouTube, but I don't have this information committed to memory, nor is it even admittedly complete). I suppose I could supplement instead with a "Comeback Player" for the split, who in my mind would be Maplestreet8. Guy's had it rough since the early years, made it back to the LCS with Team 8, and he's playing his heart out, honestly looks like he can still hang with the new hot shots of the LCS. MVP: Bjergsen (TSM). He's done it again, and it certainly helps that he has a new jungler who's basically his best buddy for setting up the kills and he can just mow 'em down. But my GOD, some of the plays he's made this split and escapes he's pulled...the Bjerger King will likely retain his crown. I think the new rule of thumb can safely be said that you ban Zed anytime you play against Bjergsen or Hai from now on.

Basket Raccoon4/1/2015, 2:15:01 AM7 votes

HUNI HUNI HUNI

SicarianSS4/1/2015, 2:33:31 AM6 votes

Sneaky, carries C9 when then are doing well or poorly. Definitely deserves to be awarded MVP.

Menbung4/1/2015, 3:56:29 AM6 votes

NA: Coach: Loco Rookie: Rush or Cali MVP: Lustboy

EU: Coach: Prolly gonna be Prolly (^~^) Rookie: Huni MVP: FORG1VENGRE

TrollFan014/1/2015, 2:00:24 AM5 votes

WildTurtle should get MVP for stealing dragon against DIG and getting that Penta and Quadra against Liquid. Plus he stepped up this split.

Derpus the Fifth4/1/2015, 8:53:50 AM5 votes

NA Coach: I honestly can't think of anyone besides LocoDoco who can get this. LocoDoco's really helped TSM step up their game, and honestly none of the other coaches in NA have really impressed me. All of the other teams in NA have had some extremely questionable draft phases that need a lot of work.

Rookie I feel like picking Impact here would be cheating since while he's a rookie in the LCS, he's a former World Champion so I'm going to have to go with Rush. Going into the split I thought Impulse would be fighting to get the last playoff spot with Gravity and Winterfox, but instead they were in a battle for 2nd. Rush has been playing out of his mind, and while he's had some questionable games, I'd still say he's top 3 at his position which is an incredibly hard thing to achieve in your first LCS split.

MVP I don't think it's possible to call an MVP before the playoffs happen. Playoff performances are a huge factor in deciding on who should get the split MVP. Before playoffs last split had someone told me Bjersen was going to win MVP over XWX I'd have laughed at them, but Bjersen showed up in Playoffs and XWX didn't. That said I'll list off the player from each of the teams in playoffs that I think has the best odds of winning it before playoffs happen. C9: Sneaky. Cloud9 once again had a rough start to the split, but so far in all of C9's rough patches Sneaky's been the shining light for the team. He's the only member of the team that didn't fall into a slump this split. TSM: Dyrus. TSM is loaded with good players, but I feel like Dyrus is the most important member of the team. His ability to stay relevant in the game when extremely far behind is what keeps TSM alive in their games, and I feel without him TSM would be completely unable to play their current style. CLG: Aphromoo. If Aphromoo left CLG, they'd go to being a bottom of the pack team. They're team fighting is garbage and they completely rely on Aphromoo to start the plays. Aphromoo is the backbone of his team, so if anyone on CLG deserves it, it's him. Liquid: I love Team Liquid, Xpecial is my favorite pro player. Unless they take 1st place in playoffs none of them deserve MVP after this horrific split. Impulse: Impact. This guy is a World Champion for a reason, his play this split has been unreal.
Gravity: This is a hard one as I'm torn between Bunny and Keane. Bunny's play making has been insane, and he's single handily won Gravity team fights, but on the other hand Keane's champion pool is nearly infinite playing 11 different champions over 18 games, and having a winning record on 6 of them. His champion pool's depth and the fact he can pull out oddball picks like Urgot, and win with them, gives Gravity a huge edge in the draft phase.

EU **Coach:**It'll be shocking if this goes to anyone other than Pr0lly. I wasn't impressed with H2K as a team at all when I watched them in their relegation and challenger series matches. Pr0lly has turned them from a team with some good mechanical players to one of, if the the best, strategical teams in Europe.

Rookie: This will probably go to Huni. Coming into the split people didn't expect anything from him, and Fnatic was expected to maybe take 6th or 7th if they were lucky. He had no expectations, but he's proven to be one of the best at his position in Europe.

MVP: Again, I don't think it's possible to call this before playoffs, but if I had to pick someone from each team: Wolves: Freeze. He took CW from struggling at the bottom of the pack to playoffs. He's the shining star of his team, and the biggest reason for a lot of their wins. H2K: kaSing. H2K were suffering from a lot of inconsistency in the beginning of the split, but the moment this guy joined the roster H2K flipped a switch and made a run from tied for 7th to 3rd. Fnatic: YellowStar. I guarantee if it weren't for his experience and leadership this lineup would have failed miserably. Fnatic were very shaky in some of their wins at the start of the split, and I feel without YellowStar's guidance they may have lost those games, and who knows what those extra loses could have done to their mentality had they been a team of 5 rookies. SK: It's Forg1ven. Forg1ven in Europe has the same effect Uzi had at worlds last year, where almost every team that played against him lane swapped because they knew they'd lose the 2v2. That alone is a huge advantage SK starts evey game in Europe with. Gambit: I think I'd have to pick Cabochard, as him and Diamond were the only two players on the team that really impressed me this split, and Diamond's still suffering from a bit of inconsistency. Unicorns: I love this team, but they're too inconsistent, so unless they go big at playoffs none of them are getting MVP.

Kharnax4/2/2015, 5:04:59 AM3 votes

EU LCS Coach: Delior (yeah, everyone names Prolly because they don't remember anyone else's name. He took a rookie team to the top of the standings) EU Rookie: Huni (Who would argue about that? Best Top laner of both leagues) EU MVP: Huni (He's the main reason for Fnatic's great season. Very aggressive and efficient as well as friendly)

NA Coach: LocoDoco (His team is strong, well prepared and serious. Loco is in part responsible for that mindset) NA MVP: Bjergsen (Not a team player and a bit arrogant, but I can't deny his immense talent) NA Rookie: Santorin (questionnable, he did have an easier time then most being in the best team)

NA best caster : Riv (Very constant in his efforts and positive tone. He does a very good job at making the games look better then they actually are)

EU best caster : Deficio (I find him borderline boring and he talks way too much, but man is this guy a gold mine of useful informations.)

Angus McFife4/1/2015, 9:13:10 AM2 votes

EU:

Coach: Pr0lly (without any doubt) Rookie: Huni / PowerOfEvil (both equally deserving it) ... maybe Odoamne, Betsy also made a HUGE impact for the short time he was in. MVP: Febiven / Forgiven / Yellowstar

NA:

Coach: LocoDoco Rookie: Keane (clearly) MVP: Bjergsen (just no one else is close enough to his level)

drew354/14/2015, 4:07:43 PM2 votes

i like all the choices, i have to disagree slightly with EU Rookie. I think Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage barely overtakes Seung-hoon "Huni" Heo, but thats my opinion and it is already written who won. But, congrats to all award winners and this first split it was fantastic!!

P.S. i have to get in LET's GO TSM AND UOL

CrayonDragon4/1/2015, 4:42:36 PM2 votes

I dont think you can consider bunny a rookie... He has lcs exp.

EU would have to be Coach: Prolly Rookie: Huni or KaSing (he helped turn H2k around after all) MVP: Forgiven? (i dont follow EU as much as I should)

NA Coach: Locodoco Rookie: Has to be Rush, only cause you can see the guy improving from game to game. And he isnt hyped like Santorin. If they pick Santorin, its only cus of the TSM Fanboyss. MVP. BugerKing or Keane (cuz he brought the hecarim and urgot)

FlyinFlag4/2/2015, 5:59:51 PM1 votes

I think we are all missing a huge player over on the EU server. Rookie of the year might go to Rush, or maybe Huni, but we are all overlooking the largest power player in the EU LCS. PowerOfEvil has been the biggest thing to hit the EU LCS ever. When the Unicorns Of Love charged into the LCS, they did it in big fashion, San Jose. Sweeping the NA LCS's best team, TSM, and then stomping on Lyon Gaming, POE seemed to master the art of creating a scary impression. Losing to Cloud 9 just seemed to spur the Unicorns on to perform better in the regular season. Now, during the regular season, POE made a huge mark in enemies, known for laning phase kills, then roaming so he can start snowballs on his teammates. Teamfights seemed to be perfect, dancing around the fight, obliterating people like he is Veigar, and coming out almost always unscathed. Cassiopia is now his trademark, much like Misaya has TF, or Hai has Zed. Point is, you do NOT want to give away the Cass pick. Because of PowerOfEvil, UOL has rose to become the new powerhouse of EU, and is now easily comparable to NA's TSM. Both have power leaders, right in the mid lane. Both mid laners strive to get laning phase kills. But, UOL has already beaten TSM. So that means they are better. Thats why PowerOfEvil deserves to be the rookie of the year. But still, as you can see at the end of San Jose, I will end with this last note. NA>EU

Buffed Purifier 4/4/2015, 3:37:32 AM1 votes

Tsm Tsm Tsm wildturtle team

Ssataniko4/10/2015, 12:28:22 AM1 votes

Rookie: Rush or Impact. Either would be logical picks.

MVP: C9 SNeaky. The Best ADC in the Western World has repeatedly outplayed Doublelift, Piglet, Turtle, on a variety of champs--Lucian, Corki, Kalista, Draven--and keeps his team afloat on the rare occasions they struggle to adjust to new Meta's and patches. Sneaky's teammate, Meteos is also a completely valid choice as the best Jungler in NA, and widely respected across the globe (yes even in Korea). Meteos can beat you with tank junglers like Rek Sai, Sejuani or Zac, or go full damage Vi and destroy your team that way also.

Frankly RIOT's utterly disgusting fealty to hyping TSM and Bjergsen means he's a likely winner, which would just be another shameful blow to the credibility of any of these awards. Choosing a selfish, overhyped mediocrity over legitimate performers. When a team has devote most of its resources to just one player (a player who is more concerned with his KDA than anything else) how could that player possibly be an MVP?

thelunchman774/18/2015, 9:20:06 PM1 votes

Sion

INF Ezay4/2/2015, 1:27:40 PM1 votes

Since Coaches are now already chosen, here are my selections for MVP and Rookie: EU MVP: SK FORG1VENGRE due to his huge performances, his low amount of deaths and therefore his enormous KDA. Rookie: UOL PowerOfEvil probably. Although he hasn't had enough consistency, he had some great games and I am seeing much potential for next split and, of course, for playoffs.

NA MVP: C9 Sneaky. C9 struggled a bit this split. However, I think their struggle is overrated. They finished 2nd with final wins over both TSM and CLG. During the whole split Sneaky performed consistent and carried several games for the team. I am really looking forward to see C9 in the playoffs and especially in next split, when they will likely bring a new mid laner for C9 Hai. I really hope for C9 Incarnati0n. Rookie: I think T8 CaliTrlolz. Carried hard in many games for Team 8. He had innovative picks and it was fun to watch such fresh blood for the mostly boring NA Top Lane.

twiggerto4/2/2015, 5:34:10 PM1 votes

What i dont understand is why nobody is even MENTIONING diamondprox for EU mvp. I mean granted he didnt have the kda of forg1vengre or febiven, but the man single handedly brought gambit from a massive loosing streak to the playoffs. His games on sejuani before 5.5 and his nidalee play were so strong, that teams just couldnt handle it. There is no other player in EU who single handedly carried their team harder, and he proves time and time again that hes not afraid to innovate, and goes outside of the box. Its one thing to have ridiculous KDAs on meta picks, but its more impressive to be able to play champions that people take for granted at such a high level.