The League of Legends European championship started on Friday as the best pro teams on the continent began their climb to the top.
G2 rally to defeat MAD Lions
New arrivals to the LEC, MAD Lions started the game strong, as a series of plays 7 minutes in ended with them taking three kills across the map. They extended their advantage and 14 minutes in, they were leading by five kills and 3K gold. However, G2 shook the cobwebs and managed to capitalize on the rookies’ aggressive moves. Eventually, the veterans brought the game back to even 20 minutes in with a 5v4 fight that gave them two kills and a tower. The game remained close, however, until G2’s patience paid off in a long-running fight 26 minutes in. Ultimately, they found a way to Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság’s fed Aphelios, then secured the ace and soon afterward – the first Baron.
The World finalists were now fully on the offense and MAD’s Nexus was soon exposed after another fight gone bad. The newcomers staved off defeat for several more minutes, but G2 parried a flank attempt by zeroing in on the enemy AD carry. And without Carzzy, the Lions were left with no claws and no base.
SK Gaming beat Vitality in a 50-minute marathon
After a very even early game, SK won a team fight 14 minutes in to get the first lead. Their opponents stayed close, however, and eventually overtook them after smart plays by Lucas “Saken” Fayard’s Cassiopeia. The game remained close throughout the mid game, with Vitality securing a risky Baron but paying for it with several kills that ended up negating their advantage 26 minutes in. Seven minutes later, SK took the second Baron but allowed their opponents to secure the Earth Dragon Soul for a more lasting advantage.
It looked like Vitality would finally tilt the game in their favor 41 minutes in after a great flank by the Baron pit saw them secure two kills. But then, a hero steal by Kim “Trick” Gang-yun took the Baron away from them. The teams continued to parry each other’s attacks until Vitality finally fumbled. The French team made a series of mispositions that cost them one player and got the rest low on HP. Their opponents capitalized with a Baron and Elder Dragon secure. With this and the big scaling advantage of Ornn and Aphelios, the German team pushed in to finally get their first win in the split.
Larssen leads Rogue to victory against Misfits
After a very respectable end of 2019, Rogue did not rest on their laurels and revamped their roster. In their opening game, they looked quite impressive. Steven “Hans sama” Liv amassed a big advantage in the early game and used it to pressure the other lanes as well. The rest of Rogue followed suit and pressed their opponents around the map, denying objectives and vision. It took Misfits over 30 minutes to get a good teamfight. Rogue simply got greedy for a Baron and after getting two kills, Misfits went for the Baron themselves.
This is where Rogue mid-laner Emil “Larssen” Larsson put the team on his back. First, he killed his counterpart Febiven and then got the rest of the opponents low with a beautiful Quiana ultimate. Misfits did manage to secure the baron but paid with three players for it and actually lost gold overall.
Now suitably empowered, the Swede ran amok around the map. Eventually, he got a kill in the top lane that left Misfits unable to defend the second Baron. Rogue went for a full-court press with the buff and crushed their opponents in their own base to take the game.
Excel Esports wrest the win after a slugfest with FC Schalke 04
Some early-game jitters saw Excel start on the wrong foot. They got punished in the top and middle lanes, but a strong focus bot and the neutral objectives kept them close. They eventually grew a small gold lead and seemed to have found a great teamfight in the top lane 17 minutes in. However, Schalke04 were able to get reinforcements first, and Felix “Abbedagge” Braun’s Cassiopeia came clutch with a triple kill.
The teams traded blows throughout the mid-game. The German side finally got what looked to be a solid advantage after Erberk “Gilius” Demir sacrificed himself for a heroic Baron steal. His teammates then won the ensuing 4v5 teamfight. Yet, Excel dug deep and as the game progressed, they started having advantages in the teamfights. Finally, they turned what looked to be a catch for Schalke into an ace for one. A series of great ultimates decimated the German backline to complete the upset. It was a game where both teams showed up and traded blows, but in the end, it was Excel who triumphed.
Origen end the day with a stunning win
In the match of the day, Origen faced off against their old rivals Fnatic. A mostly even early game eventually went Origen’s way after they picked kills on both solo laners and the opponent’s AD Carry. The result was a 2.5K gold lead by the 17th minute.
For the next ten minutes, Origen controlled the map until Fnatic snuck a great Baron 27 minutes to get back on the map. However, it was not to last. Origen made the best of being pushed away from the Baron pit after the big purple worm respawned. They chose to race Fnatic for the inhibitor, taking the opponent’s top one while protecting their mid lane.
They continued having a leg up in team fights, eventually getting the Infernal Dragon Soul and another Baron. The purple buff signaled a push across all lanes and when Fnatic failed to pick off Barney “Alphari” Morris’s Gangplank, Origen sealed their defeat.
The day offered several aggressive matches, but also multiple long slugfests that left both teams exposed. The games continue on Saturday with Vitality facing off against MAD Lions.
Who will you be rooting for?
