Counter Logic Gaming dances to victory over Team Dignitas

After getting bounced out of the Semifinals 3-0 by Immortals, CLG paid it forward in the third place match. It was a counter[logic]punch that found an unintended target.

In scrims, teams frequently restart the match if something goes awry at level 1. The theory is a good team will close it out from there -- they don't get good practice. And, frequently, that theory holds up. Unfortunately, teams aren’t allowed to call mulligan on game day. Try as they might, there are only so many Aurelion Sol bugs to discover.

Team Dignitas found themselves on the wrong end of level 1 skirmishes in both Game 2 and Game 3 and despite valiant efforts from DIG, they couldn’t recover from those deficits. CLG showcased decisive macro plays as they rotated throughout the map. The slight advantages accrued in the early game gave them the extra step they needed to snowball. DIG just kept barely losing fights or barely making it late to a position.

Those level 1 plays from CLG were set up by the diligence of their jungler,  Omar "OmarGod" Amin. "I watched all of the Dignitas vods," he said. "I had a really good idea of what they would do. I told my team they'd go here or they'd go there, and if they did, they'd die." 

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Throughout the split, CLG’s solo laners -- Darshan and Huhi -- frequently put CLG on their backs. For Darshan, this split was a sort of renaissance. And for Huhi, it was redemption. Both of them have weathered a fair amount of criticism but have persevered and climbed out for the better. Huhi now draws bans on odd champions like Aurelion Sol and Vel’Koz, which drastically frees up the pick and ban phase for his team. Darshan can also play an assortment of carry champions like Camille and Jax. In all, they provide CLG with a lot of immediate advantages -- even before any level 1 fiascos.

Those advantages make it easier for rookie jungler, OmarGod, who has at times struggled. But not today. Today it was less Omar and more God. If he felt any pressure from playing on the big stage, then it didn’t show. In fact, he actually rose to the occasion -- this, you might say, was counter logic.

OmarGod said, "Before I used to be a really greedy jungler. I was the 1v9 jungler -- even on CLG Black. But on CLG, I had to learn to do as much as possible with as few resources as possible." As is the case with most solo queue junglers, learning to trust teammates is the first step. 

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The pressure to create early advantages was alleviated thanks to the early plays, but beyond that, OmarGod played critical roles in team fights and only died a few times in the series. This may prove to be the confidence boost he needs as CLG prepares for the Regional Qualifier. CLG has now become a regular at Worlds, but they have two more tests this year before they can return. Much of that hinges on the continued improvement of OmarGod, but he’ll sleep reassured by the strength of his laners.

"I think if I bootcamped with the team before the Split and practiced with them the whole time, we'd 100% be in the Finals right now," said OmarGod. He's full of confidence as CLG approaches its next test and says he has to believe they'll win and make it to Worlds. He also caveats that by saying the one thing he really needs to focus on improving is his own confidence. 

And who knows what champion Huhi will pick up next -- he’s still improving, and the next odd champion he masters may be the final part to the CLG puzzle.

According to OmarGod, though, it doesn't matter. He said, "Huhi's a beast on every champion." 

Counter Logic Gaming now waits in the Regional Qualifier as the second seed, where they’ll play the winner of Team Dignitas vs. FlyQuest. Tune in tomorrow at 12 pm PT to watch the NA LCS Summer Split Finals between TSM and Immortals.