European Promotion Tournament Recap

[WeirdSituation]

A look back at this weekend's European Promotion Tournament.

 

The final six teams fighting for one of the three remaining spots in the League Championship Series gathered in the new Riot Studios in Cologne, Germany last week to decide who will be a pro for the next 6 months and who will be an amateur. We saw unsurprising results, crazy turnarounds and upsets as Dr. Mundo, Shyvana and Ziggs wreaked havoc on Summoner’s Rift.

 

Here’s a rundown of all the major action.

 

Meet Your Makers vs Copenhagen Wolves

 

The first series of the European Promotion tournament put the weakest team from the Summer Split against the undisputed kings of the Challenger scene and there were a few who weren’t betting on the latter. Imagine their surprise when the first game started and the Wolves looked like lost puppies, doing rookie mistakes and misplays all over the map. Maybe the nerves had finally caught up to them and they couldn’t handle the pressure, maybe there was an actual upset in the making. MYM quickly took the advantage and after getting 3 aces, it seemed that the game is decided. That was the moment Wolves finally found the strength in themselves to fight back and almost turned it around acing the Polish team themselves. In the end, however, it wasn’t meant to be and MYM’s more fed carries secured them one final fight with which they closed the game. 1-0 for the defending team.

 

The first game served like a wake up call for Copenhagen Wolves. Whatever they said to each other after it, it worked and they came back in Game 2 with clear heads and looking like the team that has been dominating almost every Challenger tournament since June 2013. What followed were three decisive wins for them, where each of their players shined on their favourite picks - Forgiven on Caitlyn, YoungBuck on Renekton, etc. By the beginning of Game 4, MYM’s spirit was clearly crushed and their heads weren’t in the game anymore. Ultimately, Wolves destroyed their dreams of getting back into the LCS and sent them packing for the Challenger League, if they decide to stay together. On the other hand, the puppies evolved into full-fledged Wolves, whose howls will be heard once again throughout the European LCS.

 

SK Gaming vs Supa Hot Crew

 

The new SK Gaming lineup went up against the surprise of the Promotion tournament, Supah Hot Crew, hoping that they can keep their LCS spot and prove everyone who said the team is finished without Ocelote wrong. A lot of weight lied on Jesiz’ shoulders who had to show he can finally perform offline as good as online. Unfortunately for SK, it didn’t look so in the first two games. Game 1 started with a lead for the defending team but a bad fight near the dragon pit turned things around in SHC’ favor. Candy Panda then went onto his split pushing strategy that proved victorious at DreamHack Winter and he successfully took an inhibitor and nexus turret. However, SK couldn’t capitalize on that and inevitably lost the game. Game 2 wasn’t even close as SHC countered every move their opponents tried to throw at them. Jesiz once again had no significant presence on the Rift and when SK surrendered, people were convinced the 3-0 win for the challenger team was inevitable.

 

Only the SK players know what they said to each other after that second game - whether it was a motivational speech from the team captain Nyph or just coming up with a better strategy for the picks and bans, it worked. With Orianna secured for Jesiz and Dr. Mundo being a meat-shield in the hands of Fredy122, SK finally had the means to win the game and they did so convincingly. They repeated that in Game 4 which meant it all came down to the last game. SK had the momentum and smiles were all over their faces, while SHC had to forget the last two maps and focus on this one, but it didn’t seem they managed to do that. SK swept them for the third time turning the series around and securing their spot in the LCS. However, there is clearly loads of work ahead of them before the start of the season if they want to beat the trend that every team which qualifies with a 3-2 ends up 8th when the split ends.

 

Ninjas in Pyjamas vs Kiedyś Miałem Team

 

Ninjas in Pyjamas had the luxury to choose who they play against and they picked up the Polish squad of KMT - a decision they probably regret dearly at the moment. It is hard to judge the games between those two teams. On one hand, KMT played very patiently and meticulously, not rushing for kills, but going for the objectives instead; on the other hand, NiP didn’t seem like themselves and it looked like for some reason they didn’t even try to win at all. The shining star for KMT was Overpow who performed greatly on Kayle in the first two games, even grabbing a double kill 1v2 without dying himself. That granted a Kayle ban by NiP in Game 3 but that wasn’t enough for them to turn things around and they had to say goodbye to their dreams of going back in the LCS - at least under the NiP name. For KMT, however, the tough road is just starting as they will have to perform better than their Polish predecessor in the league, MYM, if they want to prove that they have a place among the very best teams in Europe. Their first job though will be to decide between the dozens of offers from different organizations which are certainly coming their way ever since that 3-0 score showed on the LCS stream.

 

by Irena 'Curlychan' Pencheva  

 

http://www.ongamers.com/articles/european-promotion-tournament-recap/1100-413/

Edited December 18, 2013 by WeirdSituation