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Heading into Week 3 of the LCS Spring Split 2019 Team Liquid stands firmly on top having won all 4 of their games so far this split. Meanwhile, the mid-table teams are fighting amongst themselves for a playoff spot. Currently, 6 teams are tied for third place all with 6 points each. 100 Thieves although with some big budget recruits failed to make an impact and are currently sitting on the 9th spot having won only 1 of their first 4 games.
As we move towards the 3rd week of the LCS we take a closer look at the three must watch games of this week and also specific lane match-ups from each game you need to keep an eye on. Winners of this match-ups has the potential to run away with the entire game.
TSM vs CLOUD9
Last year’s Semi-finalist Cloud 9 and Team Solo Mid face each other once again in the Week 3 Day 1 of LCS Summer Split.
It’s the return of one of the oldest rivalry in the North American League of Legends. After 2 weeks of play both the teams are tied for 3rd place with 6 points each. Cloud9 has made big-budget roster changes this season bringing back the Belgium midlaner Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçer to NA from the EU’s Splyce.
Meanwhile, TSM has made four changes to their last year’s roster bringing in a new toplaner, jungler and support along with the inclusion of new coach: Tony “Zikz” Gray from their arch nemesis Counter Logic Gaming.
It is still not certain who will be the starting jungler for C9, but people are excited to see if Svenskeren gets a starting spot to face-off against his former team TSM. We’ll also see an explosive match-up in the bottom lane where two league veterans Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Zachary “Sneaky” Scuderi battle it out. Both of these old-timers have won the Championship Series a collective sum of 7 times along with various other tournaments. However, this is the first time since 2015 Zven will be playing without his long-time partner Mithy. People are expecting an even match-up but in the League Of Legends anything can happen.
Will we see: ~ “Sneaky in lane”?
All eyes on: MID LANE
Bjergsen vs Nisqy
Bjergesen, one of the prodigies of the western league of legends scene faces off against the new C9 recruit Nisqy. They had faced each other last time in the 2017 NA LCS Summer Split when Nisqy was still playing for the disbanded Team Envy. TSM won the series 2-1 over Team Envy. Bjergsen carried TSM on his back going 6/2/3 and 6/0/5 on his trademark Syndra in Game 1 and Game 3. Bjergsen started off his career professionally back in 2012, however, he was not allowed to play in the LCS until 2013 due to age restrictions. Numerous years and numerous trophies later he starts his 7th season as a professional player once again looking to add that one elusive trophy to his repertoire: Worlds Championship.
Meanwhile, Nisqy is making his return back to NA after taking Splyce to the 3rd place in last year’s EU LCS. Both the players are immensely cool and collected with huge champion pools at their disposal.
Whichever midlaner comes out on top will immensely swing the team’s victory chances in their favour. Both of them know the midlane winning formula very well: just keep last hitting those minions and call for that jungler gank.
100T vs CLG
3rd places team Counter Logic Gaming face off against the struggling 9th placed 100 Thieves in the Week 3 Day 2 of the LCS. 100 Thieves is the team everyone was looking out for as they had made the most stirring change to their roster bringing in the 2 time world champion Bae “Bang” Jun-sik from the Korean LCK team SKT T1. This will be Bang’s first time playing outside Korea ever since he started his career with Najin White Shield back in 2012. Combined with veteran Support player Aphromoo they have been tearing up the NA solo queue, but have only managed to win 1 out of 4 games in this year’s Spring Split. 100 Thieves has also added Korean midlaner Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun to their roster snatching him from their opponents for this week Counter Logic Gaming. This will be the first time Huhi faces his old team after his transfer.
CLG has gone through a tactical shift after disappointedly ending in the 8th spot in last year’s Summer Split, bringing in new head coach Weldon Green from EU’s G2 Esports. CLG also made a power move over the preseason bringing in the highly renowned German midlaner Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage from Optic Gaming. PowerOfEvil will be looking to continue his fine form from Week 2 after going 5/0/4 on his notorious Orianna against FlyQuest.
Will we see: ~ a new “Rush Hour”?
All eyes on: BOTTOM LANE
Bang & Aphromoo vs Stixxay & Biofrost
This will be the veteran shot caller Aphromoo’s 2nd season facing his former team CLG but this time the 2018 Spring Split MVP has the 2 times world champion Bang by his side. Since Bang’s shocking move to NA, all eyes were on him. However he has failed to live up to the hype. 100T has won only 1 game this split based on the back of Bang’s ridiculous 6/1/8 carry on Ezreal against Golden Guardians. They will be looking to carry this form onward into the third week of the split.
This is Biofrost’s 2nd season with CLG after making his move from TSM with whom he had won 3 LCS titles. After a disappointing Summer Split Stixxay and Biofrost will be looking to find themselves this season under the tactical leadership of Weldon Green. Stixxay has had a relatively quiet run since he last won the LCS in Spring 2016. The CLG duo will be looking to up their game as they face their biggest challenge yet. One false step and Bang & Aphromoo can run away with the game.
FLYQUEST vs TEAM LIQUID
The current 1st and 2nd placed team face each other in Week 3 Day 2 of the LCS Spring Split 2019. Team Liquid undoubtedly the best team currently in North America, will be looking to continue their fine run of form since last season when they won the Summer Split and reached the group stages of the World Championship. They have had a head start again this season winning all of their 4 games so far. TL has strengthened their squad even further this season bringing in the midlane extraordinaire Nicolaj “Jensen” from Cloud 9 and the 2017 worlds champion Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in from LCK’s Gen.G Esoprts.
In the meantime, FlyQuest has bought in two new solo laners to their roster for this season. Snatching the experienced midlaner Eugene “Pobelter” Park from Team Liquid and the rookie Omran “V1per” Shoura from Team Liquid Academy. This is V1per’s debut season in the LCS. V1per has been a high elo challenger player for a long time now, known for his Riven mechanics. He only joined professional play last season after he was picked up by TL Academy through scouting grounds. This will be his first year playing on the stage.
Will we see: ~ “What is broken can be reforged”?
All eyes on: MID LANE
Pobelter vs Jensen
The two veterans face off against each in the Week 3 of the LCS. Pobelter will be facing the team he took to Worlds last year. He had started off his career as a Toplaner for the now disbanded Team Curse back in 2011.
Since then, he has won 3 LCS title and a host of other trophies. Known for his cool head and pleasant personality he is liked by fans worldwide. Playing since almost the inception of the game, he is known to play every champion in the game adeptly. Followers of his stream would know that he is also a master violinist.
Jensen had started off his career back in 2012, however, he was permanently banned from playing league of legends due to his "long history of DDOS activity, abusive behaviour and poor sportsmanship across multiple accounts”. He stilled continued to play on his smurfs and came back as a coach for SK Gaming in 2014 under the new alias “Incarnati0n”.
Finally, in 2015 mid-season his ban was lifted after a review and he joined Cloud 9 as their new midlaner. Since then he has taken C9 to the Worlds Championship a total of 4 times. This year however he would be trying to make his make mark in his star studded new team and hoping to win his first LCS title with Team Liquid. Both of these midlaners is expected to go for each other jugular right from the start. No mercy on the rift!
