Counter Logic Gaming dances to victory over Team Dignitas

Riot·Sep 2, 2017·1 votes·8,263 views

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."

[[{"fid":"24479","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//riot-web-cdn.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/lolesports/s3fs-public/styles/centered/public/17nalcs_summer_finals_d1_045_0.jpg%3F.AEnMxRTVgEduwtGYENHU11t8H4EsVIN%26itok%3DbVLnBFdf","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"558","width":"992"}}]]

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.

[[{"fid":"24480","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//riot-web-cdn.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/lolesports/s3fs-public/styles/centered/public/17nalcs_summer_finals_d1_041_2.jpg%3FKa8UyDzdeZq4SsQr2e57CWr32r42h8Pg%26itok%3DZC8MF6eS","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"558","width":"992"}}]]

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.

13 Comments

III BAKURYU III Sep 3, 20175 votes

It's sad that 3 out of the 4 teams in the gauntlet won't be apart of Worlds(FQ/DIG/CLG/C9), all are worthy of competing but only the best/better teams should go anyways.

FQ VS DIG Hai is 21-7 against DIG in his career but 4-5 since FlyQuest was created. It's going to be interesting to see if FQ have learned to actually do something in the mid game, instead of falling off the face of the map and lose.

FlyQuest Balls 11-14-27-988 Moon 10-9-34-684 Hai 21-17-23-1302 Wildturtle 18-12-26-1312 Lemon 3-16-56-121

Dignitas Ssumday 15-7-25-1125 Shrimp 14-14-37-639 Keane 17-16-29-1472 Altec 21-16-26-1284 Adrian 1-10-50-154

Winner FQ 3-1

GeminiRuneSep 3, 20172 votes

I....you know...Hong Kong Attitude made Worlds. I can believe this prediction at least.

III BAKURYU III Sep 3, 20171 votes

Don't know much about Hong Kong Attitude honestly, some people were so hyped about Raise Gaming even tho I told people that Raise was really the Washington Capitals of the LMS, in which they couldn't get out of the second round of the region Worlds Q, and Hong Kong beat them, so they could be strong but IDK.
HK Attitude reminds me of AHQ/TPA with their playstyles back in 13-14. Will have to wait and see what group they're in, before I make any guesses on my Worlds predictions, but overall I am leaning on HKA to make it out of the 1st round of Groups.

Miror BSep 3, 20171 votes

Raise wasn't so much the washington capitals and more the flyquest of spring split: they started the split ridiculously well (went like 12-0 if I remember correctly) only to then get picked apart because their laners were ridiculously predictable during laning phase.

Also really interested to see how LPL does at worlds and literally no other region, as after seeing the EDG/RNG series in which both teams looked to be top tier we could see at least one of them making the finals and/or potentially take the whole thing. Combine this with how weak the western teams look, and there exists a scenario in which we have LCK/LPL teams finish 4-2 in their groups and the EU/NA teams finish like 1-5/0-6.

III BAKURYU III Sep 3, 20171 votes

Mainly made the comparison not only for the second round meme but also because the two logos look the same to me too. Honestly to me both EDG and RNG but mainly EDG look somewhat..........weak. Their series/Finals was messy and sloppy in which it wouldn't surprise me if the 3 teams from the LPL would get eliminated within groups, but will have to wait and see the group/teams within them to make judgement call on them.
Also, I'm not going to get started on EDG possibly making it to Finals after they were the clear cut 2nd favorite runner-ups to the Finals for like 3 years in a row, only to get eliminated in the first round after barely making it out of groups in 2 of those 3 years.

Looking at the Western teams that have already Q for Worlds ( TSM/IMT/MFS/G2)

G2 Esports - They're returning to their ol' EU roots of 40+ min games, in which EU looked the best when they would slow down the pace, against teams like the LPL who at times rush in with no real thought behind "Why" G2 could be fine against any LPL teams.

Misfits - ? for me besides maybe their top and mid. I will need to watch them against G2 before making any rash decisions on them.

Immortals - Beside maybe 1/2 of the team being somewhat weak in the lane phase, they look fundamentally sound as a team, good shotcalling and pretty good teamfighting.

TSM - Once again............. TSM looks strong and once again........ the hype will go on......... I do think however, this is their year to actually look good for NA at Worlds. Very similar to the SSW of 2013 when they got knocked out of groups but bounced back in 2014 and won the whole thing. I'm not saying TSM will win Worlds but I will say about 15% of my heart tells me without looking/learning the groups that TSM will actually make it out of groups but get eliminated in the Semi-Finals of Worlds.

xKanatiSep 3, 20173 votes

Good thing I had already gotten to watch the game before this made it to the front page... oh wait. i didn't cause they posted it an hour after the damn game.

AnastaeciaSep 2, 20172 votes

Where was this CLG the last time they played Dig or last week? :P IK, Omar has gotten some good time in and is showing they don't need to always hold his hand. BUT dang....still have a run at Worlds at least.

GIFT OF LOVESep 2, 20173 votes

I was waiting to see CLG 3-0 IMT, but it was the opposite. This is the CLG we need :(. Too late now, IMT already in finals. CLG is stuck in gauntlet.

ChompyWulfSep 3, 20173 votes

The difference isn't necessarily how CLG played but who they played. Ssumday may be good, but Flame handled Darshan and Ssum didn't. Shrimp is good, but clearly we saw why Xmithie was 1st team Jung and Shrimp wasn't even top 3. Keane is frankly the weakest link on DIG imo, while Pobelter and Huhi both are vying for #3 NA mid. Altec and Adrian have had amazingly good games, and amazingly bad ones while Olleh was universally acknowledged head and shoulders above all other supports and Cody Sun has been a solid starter all split.

chubs1224Sep 4, 20171 votes

I was gonna take offense to you saying Pobelter and Huhi are competing for number 3 but then I remembered Bjergsen and Jensen really are that good.

OpticalGSep 3, 20172 votes

So glad I watched the VODs before match result was spoiled! Oh wait, no VODs posted and spoiler on homepage

Thankssss rito

Virgin RaySep 2, 20171 votes

its weird to see huhi with grey hair

NIT3 RID3RSep 3, 20171 votes

OmarGod Stepping up so damn hard this series man! He was actually really damn good and because of that, the rest of his team didn't need to babysit him. If only they all had more time together....