While the continent's top 10 teams battle it out, the season continues to throw up jaw-dropping moments and unbelievable comebacks
There’s an air of uncertainty in Europe at the minute.
No, we’re not talking about Brexit, but rather the continent’s League of Legend’s scene. As we come to week seven of the EU LCS summer split, we’re really noticing how inconsistent European LoL has been recently.
As the top 10 teams from Europe battle it out in the best of twos for a chance to attend the 2016 LoL World Championship Series, we can’t help but see a lack of shine – no team really stands out.
That doesn’t mean that the season so far has been lacking in jaw-dropping moments and unbelievable comebacks though.
Take the match between old rivals Fnatic and Origen.
It was the longest match on record in LCS at 80 minutes and as expected, there was balls-to-the-wall action.
Fnatic’s Rekkles broke the world record with a creep score of 858 – it was just a shame that it came in a losing effort.
This marathon game is actually quite indicative of the lack of force behind the EU plays at the moment.
While Origen performed well from the start, gaining an early-game lead, they were unable to make it mean anything for over 80 minutes.
In a match that lasted so long, it is remarkable that a player from the winning team, an ADC no less, managed to finish the game with zero kills – an achievement claimed by xPeke.
While kills aren’t everything, but it’s an astonishing stat nonetheless.
There’s no doubt Origen have struggled further after that win in recent weeks, and have so far failed to take advantage of their easy schedule in Week Six.
It must be a tough pill to swallow for a team who we saw at the semi-finals last year.
Moving onto Splyce, this team should have been delivering back in the spring season, but just couldn’t find a strategy that worked for them.
Have they finally gott into gear? Their use of Taliyah in the top lane and Kassadin in the mid lane has helped them find their footing, while Wunder’s willingness to adapt to Tank play shows the team’s flexibility and eagerness to grow.
Mikyx is tipped to be one of the best support players in Europe and, coupled with Kobbe, has provided a solid core for Splyce. Currently sitting pretty in third place with 20 points, they’re one of the teams to keep an eye on.
As many predicted, G2 are currently leading the pack and are yet to lose a series. Their future, however, at the top is far from certain and they have tied as many matches as they’ve lost.
They lost their second game in shocking fashion in their tie against Vitality, twice failing to destroy the enemy nexus when it was down to just 35 health. It was a testament to Vitality’s dedication that they actually snatched victory from the slavering jaws of defeat.
In G2’s most recent draw against Giants, meanwhile, Trick came under fire for his performance with Nunu. This misplay for G2’s star Jungler was corrected in the second game, but it did cost the team another win.
Let’s not get carried away though.
This isn’t indicative of G2’s usual standard and Trick’s Kill:Death ratio of 7.5 is still the highest in the competition.
Come to think of it, G2’s ADC, Zven, has the second highest, so it’s a safe bet that the team’s talent will keep them in at least the top two.
Whether they hold on to their narrow lead to auto-qualify for the World Championships is another matter. Fnatic and Splyce are breathing down their neck and there are still a few matches to go.
Giants have thrown an element of unpredictability into the split too. Never seen as one of LoL’s big beasts, they have actually racked up some sweet wins against good teams.
In recent weeks they beat H2k and Origen, and drew with G2. However, their stunning 2-0 win against Fnatic is surely the highlight of their summer, with nobody expecting Giants to come out on top.
Their success was partly down to British Jungler Maxlore (see, not all Brits are out of Europe!) who put in a Churchillian performance.
Maxlore set the pace from the get-go, catching Yell0wStaR out of position, helping to secure kills on both sides of the map and picking up the game’s first baron – all before Fnatic had even registered a kill.
And yet the uncertainty persists. There are only a couple of weeks to go and it still feels as if there is everything to play for.
If G2 remain on top and grab the auto-entry to the Worlds, then who will take second seed?
It’ll be hard fought between Fnatic, Splyce and H2k – and even Giants. Who knows? Perhaps Europe really is changing.
