Pros break down key lane matchups in the 2015 EU LCS Quarterfinals
We've all seen it before. One of our teammates gets a massive lead on their opponent and completely takes over the game.
While there's less of a chance of one player taking over a game in pro play -- thanks to, you know, team coordination and all that jazz -- the 2015 EU LCS Summer Split Playoffs teams are still fully aware of the impact a single player can have on a crucial game. That means one thing: lane matchups are incredibly important.
Of course, there's no one better to ask about the vital lane matchups than the pros themselves. We asked two AD carry Quarterfinalists just that thing -- Giants Gaming's Adrián "Adryh" Pérez González and Unicorns of Love's Pontus "Vardags" Dahlblom.
Round 1: Fight
First up in the 2015 EU LCS Summer Split Playoffs will be H2K vs. Giants Gaming, starting on Saturday, August 8. Many will have their eyes on the mid lane face-off between H2K's Sangwook "Ryu" Yoo and Giants' Isaac "PePiiNeRO" Flores Alvarado, including Vardags.
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"Mid lane will be the main focused lane," he says. "PePiiNeRO is the main carry of Giants, in my opinion, and Ryu is a very strong player."
With PePii's ability to turn solo lane victories into team-wide momentum, it'll be up to veteran Ryu to prove that he can hold the young Spaniard down. As Vardags explains, the early game will be key for the matchup. "If either Ryu manages to shut down PePiiNeRO or if PePiiNeRO can manage to get a strong early game and help his laners with either roaming or just a solid poke composition, [either mid laner should be able to find an upper hand]."
With PePiiNeRO's huge champion pool and wandering style, he'll be a slippery opponent for Ryu. Recently, he's been found on champions with huge wave clear possibilities like Varus and Kog'Maw, allowing him to get side lanes pushing with leisure. To counter that, Ryu is going to have to create some pressure of his own by either picking up kills in lane or creating mid lane pressure while PePiiNeRO is away.
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According to Adryh, map pressure coming out of the mid lane won't be the only thing to watch out for in the matchup. "I think top lane [will be the most important]," he says. "Both top laners play mostly snowbally champions, and H2K is a team that abuses Teleport advantage a lot."
While both Jorge "Werlyb" Casanovas Moreno-Torres and Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu have the ability to take over a game, as Adryh explains, they do it through different methods: split-pushing vs. finding team fights. He says, "Odoamne would try and translate the advantage into another lane with his Teleport, meanwhile Werlyb would go ahead and snowball it on his own lane, dominating it."
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The top lane in H2K vs. GIA may just come down to one thing: Picks & Bans. Will Werlyb get his hands on a split-pusher like Shyvana or his famed Jax? Can Giants afford to give Odoamne a strong team fighting champion like Rumble, Gnar, or Maokai? Keep an eye on Champion Select here, folks.
Whether it comes from the center of the Rift or further up North, expect an explosive matchup between these two squads in the Quarterfinals. Blood will be spilled.
Jungle boogie
When it comes down to their Best of 5 against ROCCAT, Unicorns of Love's Vardags foresees the two squads' junglers as being the players to watch out for in the Quarterfinals.
"I would say jungle is the most important matchup for our upcoming Quarterfinals vs. ROCCAT," he explains. "[Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski] is in my opinion the most consistent player on their team and also one of the playmakers for ROCCAT. At the same time, we are playing with a new jungler [Jae-hwan "H0R0" Cho] who's a really good player but also new on our lineup."
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With Jankos' legendary ability to secure First Blood for ROCCAT, the Unicorns and H0R0 are going to have their hands full during the early game. Whether the ROC jungler is on Rek'Sai, Lee Sin, or his favorite Elise, expect him to consistently and relentlessly apply early pressure -- forcing UOL to respond through teamwork.
As such, the key to a UOL victory, he says, will be his team's ability to find cohesion with their new jungler. "From our side, it will be an interesting matchup to see how well we'll mash together as a team on stage both play wise and from a communication point of view."
Looking at the game from the other side of the bracket, Adryh considers, just for a moment, pointing at the mid lane as the one to watch. "Both [ROCCAT and Unicorns of Love] tend to play around their mid laners [Erlend "Nukeduck" Holm and Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage] a lot, making them the real carries of the team," he says.
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He then pauses for a moment to think, and adds a, "But…"
"I think junglers are going to be the ones to keep an eye on the most," he continues. "Both of them have shown they can solo carry games if they get a lead, and the jungle in 5.14 has turned way more focused towards early game. It's more likely [now] that one of them will get that desired lead." One thing's for sure: The first 10 minutes of the game will be a huge factor here.
Which team will find an advantage in their most vital lane matchups and roll on to victory? Will Ryu be able to contain the explosive PePiiNeRO? How will H0R0 do against the experienced and rock solid Jankos? Keep your eye on Lolesports when the 2015 EU LCS Summer Split Playoffs get rolling on Saturday, August 8.
