The group stages are done and here is how everyone did!
Final Standings from the Season 4 Spring Group Stages
1. The Walking Zed (4-1)
2. To Be Determined (4-1)
3. COGnitive Gaming (3-2)
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4. Quantic Gaming (2-3)
5. vVv Gaming (1-4)
6. compLexity Gaming (1-4)
I was weary about the surprises and if you didn't watch the youtube of the group predictions I put COGnitive as the 3rd place team getting out of the group stage (although they were the first pretty much locked in). I was correct into assuming compLexity's Gaming team issues would evolve into a unfortunate finish, but I did not expect the same sort of dysfunction in Quantic Gaming. Quantic known as the biggest power house, almost an assured lock in to win the whole group stage and push on to the LCS had its worse day during there most important event. They played at a local LAN because they have had issues of having connection problems at there own home. Rumors were heard that Quantic were having communication issues and latenecy issues in a public environment. This problem for Quantic was one of how cooler heads prevail. When a person/team are out of there comfort zone they may hold out and just refocus on the task at hand (IE: CLG.EU, in the CLG.EU Season 2 Quarter-Final vs World Elite) or they may completely falter and break apart (IE: World Elite, Season 2 Quarter-Final vs CLG.EU). Quantic Gaming not only did not have as great communication, they reverted back to there old playstyles of taking too much risk after things would not go right for them. Ultimately it costed them all on the second day and hopefully we'll hear back from them soon; but it is the end of the road at least for the spring season of Quantic Gaming.
So kudos to the ones who made it through To Be Determined and COGnitive Gaming 2 of 3 picks to make it through, and the one I was totally wrong about and look super strong The Walking Zed. All the teams had a capstone game to pull them through into the LCS relegation match lets see what each one was.
(Note: I will not spoil the actual VOD i'll just give some highlights of each)
Day 1 Game 4
vs 
| COGnitive Gaming | - | - | compLexity Gaming |
 Riven | Ban | ||
| Ban |  Elise | ||
 Kassadin | Ban | ||
| Ban |  Sivir | ||
 Olaf | Ban | ||
| Ban |  Annie | ||
 Shyvana | Pick | ||
| Pick |  Lucian | ||
| Pick |  Thresh | ||
 Jinx | Pick | ||
 Janna | Pick | ||
| Pick |  Ziggs | ||
| Pick |  Vi | ||
 Evelynn | Pick | ||
 Kayle | Pick | ||
| Pick |  Renekton |
compLexity Gaming already was starting slow from the day getting beat pretty heavily by To Be Determined in the first match of the day, while COGnitive were outclassed (which was very expected) against Quantic Gaming in the first match of the day as well. While each team had a loss going in it was very expected from the start that compLexity was going to try and win it. compLexity and COGnitive were very even throughout the whole match but compLexity picked a few fights to win and were pushing into the enemy nexus by 30 minutes in. Unfortunately for them one team fight costed not only costed pressure on the map but on there own push towards COGnitive's base. In the end the damage was done and through the perservearnce to hold out against an astounding 7000 gold deficit the victor still comes up ahead and capitalizes on the mistakes.
Honorable Mention: Day 2 Game 5 - COGnitive Gaming vs vVv Gaming
Overall COGnitive's resolve pushed them through and the surprising the masses by moving on through the group stage when they were heavily discounted to even win more than one. Congrats to them being the first's one in and even though upstarts I still expect them to face Curse Gaming in there relegation match. The next capstone game that hinted at "Broken Hearts, Shattered Dreams" was of two teams that actually made it in and probably The Walking Zed's closest match.
Day 2 Game 1
vs 
| To Be Determined | - | - | The Walking Zed |
 Nasus | Ban | ||
| Ban | Riven | ||
| Shyvana | Ban | ||
| Ban | Kassadin | ||
| Elise | Ban | ||
| Ban | Sivir | ||
 Lee Sin | Pick | ||
| Pick | Lucian | ||
| Pick | Olaf | ||
 Ezreal | Pick | ||
| Annie | Pick | ||
| Pick |  Gragas | ||
| Pick |  Lulu | ||
 Rengar | Pick | ||
| Ziggs | Pick | ||
| Pick | Renekton |
This on paper was probably going to be one of the biggest matches. This game would set the tone for The Walking Zed since it would be the first one of the group stage, while To Be Determined already 1-0 looked so strong dismantling a compLexity Gaming that on paper was great as well. To Be Determined started the game off well getting a kill onto Kor Kez (jungler of The Walking Zed), but a dive turned from worse to game setting for To Be Determined might of caused the momentum to shift early on for the Walking Zed. TWZ getting dove upon 3v2 by TBD during the 12 minute mark tank up to much damage. TWZ also had many of its members rotate in on the side trying to help out ultimately giving Lucian and Olaf some kills while pushing in onto the team's top tier 1 turret. Overall the game would slow down in pace somewhat for TBD to try and stay back in the game, ultimately it looked like the communication was much more superior from TWZ then on TBD.
Honorable Mention: compLexity Gaming vs The Walking Zed (the game that would decide if they would get to the relegation Match or have to keep on playing to survive)
The Walking Zed beating up the squad of To Be Determined showed much dominance when they could in day 2 and carried on to day 3. There is a reason why they are the number 1 squad on the block and probably the ones to go against the new Velocity roster (Rumored - Innox, Snoopeh, Pobelter, Yellowpete and Krepo). On the other hand To Be Determined had to win at least one to get through to the Relegation match and they made it happen in this capstone match.
3. Day 3 Game 1
vs
(Picks and Bans, Game Start)
| vVv Gaming | - | - | To Be Determined |
| Rengar | Ban | ||
| Ban | Shyvana | ||
| Gragas | Ban | ||
| Ban | Elise | ||
| Olaf | Ban | ||
| Ban | Sivir | ||
| Kassadin | Pick | ||
| Pick | Lucian | ||
| Pick | Annie | ||
 Dr. Mundo | Pick | ||
 Leona | Pick | ||
| Pick | Lee Sin | ||
| Pick | Riven | ||
| Ezreal | Pick | ||
| Vi | Pick | ||
| Pick |  Akali |
vVv Gaming had only one chance into trying to get in they had to win at least one of two games and make sure that TWZ had to lose the one to them to force a Single Elimination Tiebreaker. While on the other hand if To be Determined lost there matches they would had to hope vVv won there TWZ match to force a Single Elimination Tiebreaker. Overall the stakes were high at the start and each team brought there A game into a really interesting match of assassin/mobility vs tank/burst damage. The team comp of To Be Determined had to be great in the beginning to even try and win out mid to late game, if they did not execute their composition they would be in jeopardy in having the last game mean something. Not only did they execute, they demolished the early game against vVv. Eventhough the early game set up TBD for an easy game, they fell into difficult team fights which in turn brought back vVv gaming back from almost a 10,000 gold difference. In the end the "dirty akali" (promoted by WellPlayed caster Wombat) may have changed the tide of the game. Akali only brought in once in the group stage was the make a break moment in the career of Westrice alone, and it turned out to be the right choice.
Honorable Mention: To Be Determined vs Quantic Gaming (Another victory that posed where one team was going and how much stronger is the other team getting)
To Be Determined will project to play Team Coast in the relegation match for that LCS spot. Coast have a favorable matchup against To Be Determined, but TBD have two things that are going for them a patch catered to assassins and a roster that has stayed together for a long time now. Coast let go of Dontmashme and only started playing with Wizfujin at the end of the North American Challenger League and ESL Pro Series.
In conclusion, congratulations to The Walking Zed, To Be Determined, and COGnitive Gaming for putting on there best efforts and now they'll face one of the LCS teams that may open the gates to the Spring North American Championship Series.
The matches I briefly mentioned and probably the teams will choose are:
In conclusion, congratulations to The Walking Zed, To Be Determined, and COGnitive Gaming for putting on there best efforts and now they'll face one of the LCS teams that may open the gates to the Spring North American Championship Series.
The matches I briefly mentioned and probably the teams will choose are:
(Bold = LCS Relegated Team, Italic = Qualified Challenger Team)
6th place Summer - Curse Gaming vs COGnitive Gaming
7th place Summer - Team Coast vs To Be Determined
7th place Summer - Team Coast vs To Be Determined
8th place Summer - Velocity Esports vs The Walking Zed(This is only hypothetical, it is not the confirmed picks from any of the teams)
Overall the matches were great, a bit of controversy with the connection issues which i'll write about later, and the casting/production has been top notch ever since they hired on Zirene and Wombat for casting. I feel like if you were just getting started into watching the challenger scene this would of been a great introduction piece on how each team fought and now how each team will ultimately try to achieve there goal.
The Battle of the Atlantic is on and the relegation matches will be live on display for you soon! Catch up on here to predict who you think will place, and what chances do you put these NA teams to move on into the LCS?
Overall the matches were great, a bit of controversy with the connection issues which i'll write about later, and the casting/production has been top notch ever since they hired on Zirene and Wombat for casting. I feel like if you were just getting started into watching the challenger scene this would of been a great introduction piece on how each team fought and now how each team will ultimately try to achieve there goal.
The Battle of the Atlantic is on and the relegation matches will be live on display for you soon! Catch up on here to predict who you think will place, and what chances do you put these NA teams to move on into the LCS?
Nice analysis! Prepare for another essay on my part :D
ReplyDeleteI think your predictions on the LCS vs Challenger team games is pretty spot on. Cog and TBD are both looking strong, but since Cog lost to TBD, they are more likely to be picked as an easier win by Curse, and Coast will likely pick TBD over TWZ. Right now, TWZ is looking very strong, and I doubt the LCS teams will pick them to play against, leaving VES to go against them.
As for Quantic... It's unfortunate what happened to them in Day 2, but if they can't compete under those conditions, it is likely they would falter at LCS as well. If a LAN center is too distracting for them, then it is unlikely they would be able to focus in front of a roaring crowd at LCS. They are a strong team for sure, but playing competitively requires more than just individual skill and teamwork; it also requires the ability to focus regardless of your surroundings, and being able to recover from your losses.
As for my predictions on who moves on... Assuming the matches are as seen above, I suspect Curse will beat Cog, Coast will beat TBD, and TWZ will beat VES. Curse has a good track record against Cog in NACL, Coast has won every game against TBD (and every other team save Curse/CrsA), and maybe it's just a little wishful, but TWZ is looking very, very strong right now, and will likely beat out a VES team that has been put together in a very short amount of time. (Of course, we can't be sure considering nobody knows for certain who's on the new VES team, but hopefully TWZ can still win!)
A few more things... Still some issues with word choice and stuff. They're/their/there is one issue that comes up often in your writing. (ie. "played there hearts out" should be their) Also, I think the word you're looking for is keystone... I don't know what capstone is, but keystone refers to the main or key thing that makes something happen (ie. the stone that holds an arch together), and I think that's what these games are.
Anyways, great analysis of some of the most important games of the qualifiers! Thanks for taking the time to write about these :D It's always a great read.
Great job, keep writing~
=) thanks! and I hope TWZ does move on like you said! I'm a TBD fanboy cause of rob's story but this is the time I think they have a chance to get in, but truthfully everyone always has a chance!
Deletealso grammarrrr =X i need an editor!