With one more day to go, SK Gaming have secured their playoff spot while FC Schalke 04’s winning streak continues. Meanwhile, Rogue defeated MAD Lions to tie them for the first place in the LEC and tease a possible tiebreaker between the two best teams of the Summer Split.
Schalke on the Cusp of a Miracle Run
After a poor spring split, both teams were on the cusp of making playoffs before they clashed on Saturday – and while Vitality had a slightly better score, Schalke were coming off a big winning streak.
The early game was mostly even, with a late first blood going to the German team but their opponents focusing more gold on their AD Carry Markos "Comp" Stamkopoulos. However, as the game progressed, Vitality made multiple mistakes, resulting in two aces for Schalke.
Eventually, the German team secured the Baron, used the buff to take two inhibitors and ended the game shortly afterward. With this, FC Schalke 04 are now even with Team Vitality at 7-9 and, should they defeat MAD Lions in their last game, can make the near-impossible run to playoffs. Go Royal Blues!
SK Gaming end Origen’s Playoff Dream
After a good split, SK Gaming could lock a Top 6 spot with a victory over the struggling Origen. The German squad started well, punishing Barney "Alphari" Morris’ overaggression with two kills in the first 10 minutes.
Origen, however, found kills in the bot lane and took the first big fight 16 minutes in where they caught SK in the dragon pit for three kills and a dragon, equalizing the game.
Then, what started as a pick on the SK support Dino "LIMIT" Tot started a fight where Alphari was nearly killed before a series of great area skills decimated the rest of Origen, leading to a quick 4-0 and a Baron for SK.
Origen never recovered, and a fight near the Baron 29 minutes in saw SK kill three and push in to take the game. With this, SK Gaming ended OG’s hopes while securing a playoff spot for themselves.
Clutch Win for Fnatic
The new match saw another iconic LEC team fight for a chance to make the Top 6 as Fnatic took on Excel Esports. Excel had a minor advantage in the early game, taking the first two dragons and the first tower.
As the mid-game stated, however, Fnatic had a series of great picks they used to get objectives and amass a growing lead.
Excel jungler arc Robert "Caedrel" Lamont boasted most of his team’s kills, so when Fnatic killed his Lee Sin 20 minutes in, they went for an early Baron and were able to secure it alongside a 4-2 fight.
They took over the map, eventually getting another clean fight and a second Baron and ending the game in just under 35 minutes. If Fnatic can defeat SK Gaming on Sunday – or if MAD take down FC Schalke 04 in their last match – they can breathe a sigh of relief.
Misfits Gaming Flounder vs G2 Esports
After a split plagued by disappointments and with no chance of advancing after Fnatic secured their earlier win, Misfits Gaming could only play for their fans as they took on a resurgent G2 Esports.
G2 dominated the early game, getting a kill in the mid lane only 3 minutes in and then proceeding to amass an over 5K gold lead in the first 15 minutes, breaking the mid inhibitor tower shortly afterward with a huge mid lane push after a single kill.
Still, Misfits tried to fight back and got several kills even after G2 got the Baron 24 minutes in, with AD Carry Kasper "Kobbe" Kobberup being their main hope. Yet the Danish sharpshooter was not enough to turn back the tide. G2 retained control of the map, eventually getting a second baron, two inhibitors and a cloud soul before ending the game.
Rogue Sneak a Win in Showdown with MAD Lions
The last game of the day featured the top two teams – Rogue and MAD Lions. A victory here would cement MAD’s first place or tie the top two teams yet again.
Rogue started very strong, taking two early kills in the mid and top lanes and piling on kills on AD Carry Steven "Hans sama" Liv on his Aphelios. However, MAD were able to slow down the pace of the game somewhat and as it went on, Marek "Humanoid" Brázda’s AP Kog’Maw was becoming more of a threat, eventually getting a quadra kill 32 minutes in.
Two minutes later, MAD looked set to secure an infernal soul when Rogue instead elected to teleport two people to a minion wave in MAD’s open base and have the rest stop the recalls. Even a respawning inhibitor was not enough to save MAD as Rogue took the win and tied them again for the first place.
READ MORE:
- G2 Esports vs Misfits Gaming LEC 2020 Summer Week 8
- Will Schalke 04 Make It Into the Playoffs?
- LEC Friday Review: FC Schalke 04 Miracle Run, MAD Lions Alone at the Top
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