The Recap: LPL Week 8
Riot·4/14/2014, 10:10:15 PM·0 votes·860 views
The eighth week of LPL saw OMG turn the tides against the comeback kings of Edward Gaming. They also rocketed up to 32 points, making it nearly impossible to dethrone them at first place. EDG had their worst week with three losses in four games. Positive Energy and Royal Club both took draws while Energy Pacemaker limped away from two series winless. Invictus Gaming and World Elite closed this week without losses, but LGD split even against RC.
This marked san’s first week of the new split on Twitch, and he played it tremendously well in teamfights. Though he got caught out and fell to Fzzf and NaMei in lane against EDG, he and Gogoing proved more than capable of coordinating fights so san could deal optimal damage. He was even seen leading the charge in a few engagements, as both EP and EDG were too terrified to face the power san brought to the game. OMG is full of strong players, but this was once again san’s week to shine.
Pyl
Many fans of Chinese League of Legends speak in glowing terms when referring to Pyl, but we haven’t seen the true spark until this week. His play on Sona created game-winning engagements, and even when LGD lost, his Karma saved members of his team time and again and stalled out the game. Even as LGD struggles, their bottom lane can stand toe-to-toe with some of the best in LPL.
Ruo
Ruo excels most when he focuses on controlling the jungle. He consistently punished plays made by EP’s BuPing and found the advantage in the farm game while BuPing attempted to bypass WE’s wards down bottom. Ruo seemed to always react to movements of EP by finding a larger advantage for his team this week. He earned a MVP and ended with zero deaths in the first game. As WE climbs, ClearLove’s replacement is looking more and more like a threat.
Before this week, PE had managed to win three games: one against the wildly inconsistent Invictus Gaming and two against 2013 Summer’s last place team, Energy Pacemaker. Few would guess that PE would find a win against EDG, a team only one point away from first place at the start of the week. Their improvements seem to be down to Ycc’s gains in learning the jungle role, Aluk0 reliably winning his lane, and JOJO’s sense of game influence. PE can’t hope to finish the split in the top six, but they can harness this new energy and look for a positive outcome in the next promotion.
Before this week, EDG was on a ten game win streak. Even when their matches seemed impossible, they could turn the tides with one teamfight. They sought to turn their record against OMG, the last team they had lost to, with more early pressure, and it backfired when OMG was able to rely on Twitch and the ability to bait EDG’s team into confined spaces. Then, they managed to lose their first game against PE. If not for their decisive comeback victory in the second game, we might guess EDG is in a severe slump. For their sake, we hope they can shake it off, as it’s still possible for WE to rip second place from their clutches.
For more updates on 2014 LPL Spring, check out lolesports.com.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
OMG vs Edward Gaming Game 2 OMG reminded audiences that they will not back down from a game of turret-taking chicken by mowing down the entire top row of EDG’s turrets. Despite OMG's early objective control, EDG found picks that got them ahead. By tunneling in on pick-offs, they proved susceptible to Gogoing’s Trundle baits, and OMG constantly packed them into tight corridors where san’s Twitch and U’s Ziggs excelled. OMG’s map control shone this game, despite EDG’s improved sense of vision. LGD Gaming vs Royal Club Game 1 LGD’s Star brushed the dust off Riven and wreaked havoc - even on the new patch. His combos with Rena’s Orianna Shockwaves decimated Royal Club. RC wasn’t without their own highlights despite the loss. It’s taking some time for Uzi to recalibrate himself as an AD carry, but his play as Caitlyn was devastating in both games. Despite the attention Styz has been receiving all season for his breakout performances, he had to rely on quick saves by Pyl to avoid feeding Uzi kills. Positive Energy vs Edward Gaming Game 1 Whenever Edward Gaming loses, they typically lose early, and this was no exception. Ycc has shown that the transition from AD carry to jungle can be successful with sharp play-making and tight dragon control. EDG, despite their tendency to fall behind and make extraordinary comebacks, could not stand against the chaos caused by Explosive Cask and Grand Skyfall. For perhaps the first time since the split started, Positive Energy is showing signs of life, and they’ll need to ride this new high to avoid failing to find a spot for the summer split.Top Performers of the Week
San
This marked san’s first week of the new split on Twitch, and he played it tremendously well in teamfights. Though he got caught out and fell to Fzzf and NaMei in lane against EDG, he and Gogoing proved more than capable of coordinating fights so san could deal optimal damage. He was even seen leading the charge in a few engagements, as both EP and EDG were too terrified to face the power san brought to the game. OMG is full of strong players, but this was once again san’s week to shine.
Pyl
Many fans of Chinese League of Legends speak in glowing terms when referring to Pyl, but we haven’t seen the true spark until this week. His play on Sona created game-winning engagements, and even when LGD lost, his Karma saved members of his team time and again and stalled out the game. Even as LGD struggles, their bottom lane can stand toe-to-toe with some of the best in LPL.
Ruo
Ruo excels most when he focuses on controlling the jungle. He consistently punished plays made by EP’s BuPing and found the advantage in the farm game while BuPing attempted to bypass WE’s wards down bottom. Ruo seemed to always react to movements of EP by finding a larger advantage for his team this week. He earned a MVP and ended with zero deaths in the first game. As WE climbs, ClearLove’s replacement is looking more and more like a threat.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
Positive Energy wins vs. Edward Gaming
Before this week, PE had managed to win three games: one against the wildly inconsistent Invictus Gaming and two against 2013 Summer’s last place team, Energy Pacemaker. Few would guess that PE would find a win against EDG, a team only one point away from first place at the start of the week. Their improvements seem to be down to Ycc’s gains in learning the jungle role, Aluk0 reliably winning his lane, and JOJO’s sense of game influence. PE can’t hope to finish the split in the top six, but they can harness this new energy and look for a positive outcome in the next promotion.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WEEK
Edward Gaming has their worst week of the split
Before this week, EDG was on a ten game win streak. Even when their matches seemed impossible, they could turn the tides with one teamfight. They sought to turn their record against OMG, the last team they had lost to, with more early pressure, and it backfired when OMG was able to rely on Twitch and the ability to bait EDG’s team into confined spaces. Then, they managed to lose their first game against PE. If not for their decisive comeback victory in the second game, we might guess EDG is in a severe slump. For their sake, we hope they can shake it off, as it’s still possible for WE to rip second place from their clutches.
For more updates on 2014 LPL Spring, check out 
