Doublelift and Counter Logic Gaming step up in the 2015 NA LCS Summer Semifinals

Riot·Aug 17, 2015·0 votes·16,546 views

Counter Logic Gaming's stepped up. Coming back strong ever since their mid-Split slump, the boys powered through Team Impulse in their 3-0 2015 NA LCS Summer Split Semifinals victory. They proved to be a threat from every position against TIP, displaying new levels of confidence, and patience, as they adapted throughout the Best of 5 series. Afterwards, we sat down with CLG's AD carry Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng to find out how his team finally found success in the Playoffs.

Early pressure was a huge factor in the series, according to Doublelift. And while CLG got off to a blazing start, ganging up on Eon-yeong "Impact" Jung's Shen to grab First Blood of the series for top laner Darshan "ZionSpartan" Upadhyaya's Olaf, Impulse answered with dazzling displays of their signature aggressive tendencies. In every game, Impulse's jungler Yoon-jae "Rush" Lee punished CLG around the Rift early, consistently finding moments of opportunity.

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"This series was a good example of why Rush is really good and why he's also not as good," says Doublelift. "He's so ridiculously good early game. He always has insane pressure over the map. All three of our lanes had to play scared a lot of the time just because of him and the pressure he puts on us." But while Rush was a terror in the early game, he couldn't translate that early game pressure into mid and late game power. And eventually, TIP's over-aggression got the best of them.

It happened time and time again over the series, with Impulse gaining an early lead thanks to Rush, then CLG clawing their way back. "We know how to play from behind because we're behind so much," laughs Doublelift. "It's not a daunting task anymore. We have a plan when we're behind, it's not a big deal. Before, it was the end of the world. It's not like that anymore."

Good Timing

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To shut down Rush, Jake "Xmithie" Puchero rose to the occasion on Ekko and smothered the map with wards so TIP's jungler couldn't get as many ganks off. He dropped 103 in just three games. "I feel like everyone underestimated Xmithie," Doublelift says. "He has really good vision control and team fighting." Not only that, but he stood up to Rush when many thought he'd get completely shut down. "I think they matched pretty well together. Rush was better early, but they disrespected Xmithie a lot and let him do whatever he wanted."

"Xmithie is really good at messing with people," Doublelift continues. "He's just a really smart player. A lot of the time he'll stop their back line from doing damage and that's all you need. A player that's extremely disruptive. He doesn't get all the farm, he doesn't get all the kills, he doesn't make flashy plays. But he's really consistent and really smart and puts in a lot of work. I'm glad we have him and I'm glad he shut the haters up."

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Xmithie may still be considered the weakest link on CLG, but after his performance in the Semifinals, that's a scary prospect. Every CLG player shined in the series, having moments where they played perfectly, according to Doublelift. And with that being the case, he and his support Zaqueri "Aphromoo" Black were free to focus and smash their lane opponents, drawing the attention of Rush. "I'm taking pressure away from my teammates, and I'll know they'll pull through when the time comes. It's so much better this way. There's not all this burden like I have to carry."

Nevertheless, that's exactly what he did. Going 20/5/23 in the series, Doublelift was a monstrous presence. And even though he thought he unnecessarily died early in every game, there were occasions where he showed restraint, backing off from a skirmish instead of taking a risky rocket jump towards TIP's outstretched arms. "I'm glad I had moments where I thought I was totally in control of this game," he says. "But early, Rush is just such a monster. He put me in check a lot."

Fearless

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Even so, with everyone on CLG coming together and relying on one another throughout the series, they were able to pull off their first LCS Semifinals win. "I hope people remember that we're a real team now," Doublelift says. "I think we took really good initiative, even when we were behind. That's the sign of a team that actually knows how to work together. A team is five people who trust each other to follow up on their play. And before, when we'd get behind we'd say, 'no no that's not going to work, I'm scared this might happen.' But I think now we're a lot more fearless...I'm really proud of my team."

Now, as Counter Logic Gaming have kept their Playoffs dreams alive and head to Madison Square Garden as Finalists of the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split, Doublelift is almost giddy at the thought. "It's crazy!" he laughs, totally lighting up. "I didn't think it would happen. I knew that we should win this match, but I was always unsure if we could actually pull it out and make it happen. And we did!"

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Not only that, but they get their wish of facing off against longstanding rivals, Team SoloMid. With a week to prepare for TSM in the Finals, CLG are more motivated than ever to continue on their warpath of success in order to take home 1st place and punch their ticket to the 2015 World Championship.

Counter Logic Gaming takes on Team SoloMid in the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split Finals on Sunday, August 23 at 1PM PST, right here on Lolesports.

Leah Jackson is a web content editor at Lolesports. Feel free to follow her on Twitter @Leahbjackson.

62 Comments

SinatraZAug 17, 201528 votes

Im rooting for CLG, mainly because they are a funny team with cool members like Zion and Aphro and they are the only NA team without any koreans.

Also, im tired of TSM winning the playoffs split after split :P

quickchapterAug 17, 20155 votes

wouldnt u want tsm to win as well as liquid so liquid can take the 2nd spot into worlds?

NA DannyAug 17, 20153 votes

It would be better for TiP to win the bo5 against TL to ensure CLG's going to worlds.

A Wise FoolAug 17, 20156 votes

What? If you want to ensure CLG going to worlds, then just have CLG win. They are put in the position to earn it, make them. Personally I want TSM to win so Liquid+C9 can both go but that's just my opinion.

NeoDeimosAug 17, 20151 votes

"If you want to ensure CLG going to worlds, then just have CLG win".

Mainly because the Liquid/TIP match is on Saturday (i.e. before the Finals). Therefore, if TIP wins, CLG will already be guaranteed the 2nd qualifying spot to Worlds; and thus the Finals between TSM and CLG is only to determine who gets 1st seed, as both already secured their spot at Worlds.

Conclusion: A TIP win takes the pressure of qualifying off of CLG's shoulders.

A Wise FoolAug 19, 20151 votes

CLG said themselves that they are now embracing the pressure and playing better because of it. You want them to play worse vs TSM?

GIFT OF LOVEAug 18, 20151 votes

Yes, you are on the right path...

Raise The GnarAug 18, 20151 votes

Well yeah ofc we want to win the Finals, but the 3rd place match can guarantee CLG gets 1st or 2nd seed at worlds. and because the 3rd place match gets played before the Finals it could take a lot of pressure OFF of CLG. if TiP wins CLG has the 2nd most points at 100 (10+90) TiP would also have 100 (30+70) but CLG gets the tiebreaker due to winning more points in the summer split.

BUT! If CLG loses and Liquid wins, then at the very least we probably play TiP in one more Bo5 to try and go to worlds.

Also I doubt C9 is going to worlds this year. Even if Liquid and TSM win and get their spots C9 would still have to play 3 Bo5's against GV/DIG, TiP, and then CLG which all of those would be close games. (except the DIG one)

A Wise FoolAug 19, 20151 votes

Never rely on someone else. CLG should earn their worlds spot.

About C9, they would face GV, TiP, and CLG if Liquid+TSM win. GV is easy win, they have fallen apart because they are no longer cheesing. C9 is as good as CLG in the teamfight face (regular season game) and better in the laning phase (if you remember, they had a gold lead until Zion's Kennen). They also have tons of experience in a Bo5s, something Impulse does not have. So we assume they beat Impulse, now it's CLG, who they are just as good as (now that they have Hai back). Plus, Hai will have had a month to get used to the jungle, study CLG's play, and plan accordingly. Don't underestimate Cloud 9.

quickchapterAug 17, 20151 votes

i meant that since sinatraZ had a TL logo he was a TL fan so he would want TL to have the best chance to go to worlds, but i feel like CLG will secure 1st this season after all they have the best early/mid game and the best vision denial while tsm takes forever to win so CLG will have a great chance of winning NA

NeoDeimosAug 17, 20152 votes

tsm takes forever to win

You must not have watched the Quarterfinals against Gravity, where TSM's wins were rather quick.

CryovixAug 17, 20151 votes

@NeoDeimos TSM still has the longest average game time of any NA lcs team

Smart KittyAug 17, 20151 votes

maybe he has enough confidence in TL to win the regional qualifiers, I'm pretty confident they would if they go there, anyways I'm rooting for CLG like always

SinatraZAug 17, 20151 votes

Exactly, Im pretty sure TSM and CLG will have 1st and 2nd seeds and Team Liquid will win Regionnals.

PrestonCraftsAug 17, 20157 votes

I know what you mean.Plus even if they go to worlds,they just end up losing.At least teams like CLG or TL have chances of winning.

OldmanyamamotoAug 17, 201512 votes

TL has more so of a chance at winning at worlds than a team that 3-1 them? I mean we did manage to make it out of groups last year. I'm tired of seeing simple hate just because it's "tsm".

LintheAug 17, 20154 votes

{quoted}

TL has more so of a chance at winning at worlds than a team that 3-1 them? I mean we did manage to make it out of groups last year. I'm tired of seeing simple hate just because it's "tsm".

I think it depends... mostly on the ADCs..

The Piglet I watched last weekend was NOT the Piglet of the summer split... Granted, TSM didn't lose their mind and let him get on Kalista. But he only had 1 good game.. that was the Vayne game. I don't know who picking his champs but whoever did... threw the series.

And where was that Turtle all split? Turtle was consistently the worst ADC all split. And if TSM would try out Keith and then buy out his contract, Turtle was BAD. And yet he came up huge in the semis. Is that the Turtle we see at Worlds? Or the one who had like 1 good game all split before that (I remember him going something like 7-0-5 on Kalista).

PrestonCraftsAug 18, 20153 votes

Not only did Piglet not play strong,but the picks were not working for Piglet.They put him on a high risk high reward champion like Twitch and TSM took advantage of it and punished him for it.Not the best choice when down a game.

CryovixAug 17, 20151 votes

the problem with TSM at international events is they either show up and play good games, or they do nothing.

DeathscytheDuoAug 17, 20154 votes

The hate doesnt come because "it's tsm", but because tsm always goes to worlds and then loses bigtime because their strats work very well in na but not at all on international level. And please "they got out of groups"... is that a great achievment in your opinion, because it really isn't at all. I mean yeah its better than getting kicked out of worlds in groups, but thats it, that doesnt say you were good it says there were teams that were even worse in some way or another. And if you watched the TL vs TSM series you surely agree that it wasn't even in a crushing way or something, it was way to close to say TSM was much better than TL, so theres no way to know if TL or TSM would (or maybe will) do better internationally, i hope TL makes it to worlds so we can see. Maybe we'll see CLG, TSM and TL alltogether at worlds, its at least possible :P (i hope Gravity makes it though)

TooPrettyToDieAug 18, 20154 votes

Lol 0 EU team made out of group stage so it is a big deal. Name me one team that could have beat samsung blue/white in a best of 5.

TSM always goes to world and they deserve it. No other NA team that did not make it could have done any better. You think a team that can't even beat TSM will somehow miraculously do better against international teams? TSM looked bad because they were outmatched, not because they somehow don't perform well against Korean teams. Other NA teams would have done way worse.

Fat of the LandAug 18, 20152 votes

Okay so which team(s) in NA would perform better than TSM internationally? Because 3 teams have represented NA at every world championship and the others didn't show any better than TSM.

IPleadInsanityAug 18, 20155 votes

Wtf, tell me how a team that wins play offs time after time against these teams have less of a chance of winning than the team's they beat that would imply that the team they beat was better than them ....yet they won....

Bot GarbageAug 18, 20152 votes

You want to know why? I tell you why. As the other Guys before me alreasy said on international stage tsm play really bad. The only time they played "well" Worlds last season. And if I remember correctly they got quite a easy Group to get at least second to get out of there ( SK Gaming almost got back after having sub jungler switched with main jungler). Another point is MSI. TSM at MSI was worse. And with a strategy to shut down Dyrus early (he fell prey to frist blood the whole time) they only have one lane to focus in the midlane. A lot of botlanes are way stronger then Turtle/lustboy. If Bjergsen can´t really carry neither Turtle went even in lane they have 0 chances at worlds.

CuberAug 18, 20152 votes

What are you saying? Its better that they did "well" at worlds last year cuz it was LAST YEAR, the closest time they were there. The TSM that played there and at MSI have obviously improved or they wouldn't have beat TL. And people cant say TL was better but made more mistakes because being a good team means that YOU DON'T MAKE MISTAKES WHEN IT MATTERS!

GrubHooliganAug 18, 20152 votes

Bogus argument.

Sure, they laid an egg at IEM San Jose, and they were embarrassed at MSI.

But they won an international tournament within the past year (IEM Season IX World Championship). They made it out of the group stage last year, and then lost to the eventual champions (And they took more games off of SSW than SSB did in that tournament).

I'm not saying that TSM will do well at Worlds, or even that they will do better/worse than other NA teams, but "they suck at international tournaments" is nonsense.

NA DannyAug 17, 20152 votes

They do have a korean! CLG Huhi!

SinatraZAug 17, 20151 votes

He haven't played a single game bruh ...

ShadowFiend812Aug 22, 20151 votes

He plays scrims though I think he could be a secret weapon possibly

Raise The GnarAug 18, 20151 votes

We have a Korean but he's really only being used to keep Pobelter at his peak performance, knowing that if he slips up, Huhi can replace him.

ManwalrusAug 18, 20152 votes

C9 would argue about CLG being the only team without koreans.

ManwalrusAug 18, 20151 votes

Also huhi is korean

GIFT OF LOVEAug 19, 20151 votes

Yes no koreans... But they got Huhi lol...

AeriluxAug 17, 20156 votes

Hope it goes to game 5 at Madison. The hate for tsm though is really unnecessary. There is a reason they keep getting to the playoff finals no matter their regular season position. BO5's truly show which teams are better due to the adaptation aspect. Also don't understand how people think teams that can't beat TSM would definitely do better at worlds...

Ludwig Van BeeAug 18, 20152 votes

Think about this. Skt was not able to beat Najin in regionals last year, but they would have done surely better at worlds as they showed at All Stars. Samsung Blue was surely stronger than Skt but I think that at worlds Skt would have done even better than them. Yes they lost against White and no one would have beaten white, but Skt would have never lost against Fnatic in groups for example.

GrubHooliganAug 18, 20152 votes

Sometimes it's a case of bad matchups. Sometimes there are situations where Team A is better overall than Team B, but Team B just CANNOT beat Team A.

Actually, I don't have to use hypotheticals, because there's a real example. CLG just can't seem to beat TSM. Head-to-head, TSM > CLG. But in the North American LCS, against the rest of the competition, CLG was the better team. Take away their games against each other, and CLG is 13-4, whereas TSM is 9-7.

So maybe TSM is really good at beating CLG, but less good at beating everybody else, and maybe CLG can't beat TSM, but could do better than TSM against international competition. Same with Liquid. It's distinctly possible.

This isn't necessarily what I believe (I wouldn't want to speculate about any NA team's chances without knowing who they'd face in their respective group stages), but I hope it helps explain where people are coming from when they say that a team like Liquid or CLG has a better shot at Worlds. It's not as absurd a statement as you'd think.

Me EvilMasterAug 17, 20154 votes

It would be tough for CLG to beat TSM since TSM 4-0 CLG in the past years. However, CLG looking superb recently. I am still worrying about the potential drop from CLG like what they have been doing for the past years during playoffs.

GIFT OF LOVEAug 18, 20151 votes

Go ask Crumbzz he knows... I know...

rtbf34391052Aug 17, 20154 votes

After watching CLG vs TIP, I feel silly trying to make any predictions for the finals.

My only question how much popcorn I should be eating.

KeljanAug 18, 20151 votes

All of it. No kernel left uneaten. But save some for me.

I have a good feeling this series will make the regular season games look like child's play. I expect nothing less than 50 kills, 2 pentakills, and 1 baserace

PrinceTarariAug 19, 20151 votes

NO... no pentas. Wildturtle is a pentakill machine, so if there are pentas they will be his lol

TrollFan01Aug 18, 20153 votes

CLG can still take the 2nd seed if TIP beats TL for 3rd place. If that happens both TIP and CLG will be tied at 100 CP but since CLG won more during the Summer they'll hold the tiebreaker and take 2nd place and TIP will have to be at the top of the Regional Gauntlet. I say this because I called the winner of the TSM/TL would win the playoffs. Both teams have a lead against CLG and look overall stronger.

Sure I'm going to get voted down for this but I think TSM will win the playoffs but don't want to disregard CLG's chances altogether.

GIFT OF LOVEAug 18, 20151 votes

TIP will not win gauntlet if they are in gauntlet. I'm 99.99% right... I have faith in CLG... CLG got this... If crumbzz was here we would know...

TrollFan01Aug 18, 20151 votes

Gauntlet aside we both KNOW that CLG is rooting for TIP to take 3rd.

GIFT OF LOVEAug 19, 20151 votes

I'm sure it's not TIP. Why? No Xiaoweixiao. Wait you mean vs Team Liquid right? If you meant 3rd place match then you might be right. They probably can beat TL idk...

TrollFan01Aug 19, 20151 votes

CLG wants TIP to beat TL for 3rd place because even if they lose to TSM (which seems likely) they'll still make it into Worlds without having to play anymore games.

PrinceTarariAug 19, 20151 votes

I think the problem with your theory is that TSM hasn't been looking better than CLG, CLG is on a hot streak right now where TSM is just coming out of a slump. I'm not saying CLG is going to win because we all know how they play against TSM, but I do think they look overall better as a team at the moment.

TrollFan01Aug 20, 20152 votes

At the end of the regular season I'd agree but right now I don't see it. TSM beat both GV and TL in very convincing fashion. CLG did the exact same to TIP but the difference is TIP had a far weaker mid laner than their usual mid. Go back and look at the games. CLG was behind for the first 2 games for a good amount.

TSM beat complete teams. CLG struggled in game against a weakened team that wasn't at full strength. TSM has been adapting to their opponents and been fighting teams at their strongest. CLG took out a weaker team and TSM has beaten CLG all 4 times they played this year. Add in CLG's slump in the Summer came at the hands of the top 4 teams. TSM, TL, TIP, and GV.

Yes, all 3/4 of the games against TSM have been close but this is BO5 and TSM are the gods of that in NA. TSM beat both GV and TL who everyone thought had the edge over them and they lost to TSM.

I'm not saying CLG won't go to Worlds, just that the 1st place seed belongs to TSM because of all the factors going in their favor.

Calibretto9Aug 18, 20152 votes

I have no predictions but am super excited thats it's TSM vs. CLG - the old school rivalry match. I'll be pulling for TSM but mainly for good games. I hope whoever wins learns a lot and uses the games to sharpen the team so that NA sends the best possible team to worlds. My biggest concern is another embarrassing showing for NA in worlds.