What could happen when the first place team MAD Lions need one more game to guarantee a top 2 finish and a Worlds spot faces an inconsistent Team Vitality? In this LEC split, this could mean only one thing: Vitality wins, of course.
With rivals Rogue stumbling against SK Gaming, MAD Lions had a clear route to a sole first place before Super Week, a guaranteed top 2 position in the season and a Worlds seed. All it would take was to defeat the 5-9 Team Vitality. When the teams got on the Rift, the action started almost immediately. MAD nearly killed the enemy AD Carry Markos "Comp" Stamkopoulos just two minutes into the game. Vitality quickly struck back, eventually getting a kill lead with a series of dives that saw them lead 7-2 in kills 14 minutes in. As the mid-game started, however, MAD slowed down the game and equalized the gold. Vitality stayed ahead in drakes, however, and a 2:0 fight 27 minutes in let them secure the ocean soul.
MAD caught Comp 32 minutes in and pushed in to get an inhibitor, but lost several kills on the way out. Vitality secured the Baron and rotated towards the baron, but MAD took it and got a kill as well. The Lions took an inhibitor but did not go for the Nexus and the buffs eventually expired, bringin the teams back to even.
It came down to one last big fight 37 minutes in and in it, a great performance by the Vitality carries saw them stay alive and get three kills to end the game. With this victory, they are now standing at 6-9 before Super Week alongside Origen and Misfits gaming. MAD, meanwhile, missed a chance to secure a top 2 spot.
- Hard Loss for Team Vitality Against Resurgent G2 Esports
- MAD Lions Smash Origen to Secure LEC Playoff Spot
For more League of Legends news and analysis, follow our coverage here.