EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LAtb9DF.jpg)
The undisputed number 1 of China is being challenged by a team that has risen up from the depths of trolling. OMG and Snake were taken down without dropping a game. On top of that, LGD played fantastic League of Legends as they filled in every aspect of the game close to perfection. Is this enough for them to take on Edward Gaming? Enough to take on a team that is able to punish opponents for every single mistake that they make?
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/M0JeKYx.jpg)
Game 1
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A laneswap was initiated by LGD and shortly after the lanes swapped back to normal there was a lot of action going down in the botlane. TBQ waited patiently in the river bush to jump onto a fleeing low health Caterpillar that flashed the Glacial Prison but went down anyway. As both toplaners teleported to the botlane and LGD failed the towerdive, Clearlove single handedly came out on top with a quadra kill!
EDG took immediate control over the bottom side of the map, with 4 pink wards and LGD did the same but in the top side with 3 pink wards.
Both teams had a dragon each but EDG was leading in turrets, 3-1, and gold,2.5k, as they hit the 20 minute mark of this first match.
EDG did everything in their power to defend the remaining outer turret in the mid lane by sending resources to it whenever Imp was getting close to it, great rotations coming out of EDG and LGD seemed a bit helpless at this point.
Dragon control was in hands of EDG that kept warding around this area and when they thought that they were taking their second dragon, LGD was there to interrupt it. They win the fight 2-1 and a wonderful shockwave coming out of GodV lead to EDG fleeing from the objective. LGD rotated towards the mid lane to take down the remaining outer turret and to take away the dragon.
The game completely turned in favor of LGD when Clearlove and Koro1 got decimated by the members of LGD near the baron pit, EDG was not in position to fight and lose the baron and shortly after 2 more turrets to give LGD a 5k gold lead.
As both teams prepared for the 4th drake spawn, EDG beat LGD to it again, little did they know that Acorn was teleporting in behind the dragon pit to flank EDG, causing chaos all over the river. GodV got deleted from the map by Koro1 who jumped on him with his Gnar but couldn’t prevent his team from losing the teamfight.
LGD ran up to EDG’s base and grab a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2
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A bloody early game as both midlaners pick up 2 kills before the 10 minute mark and LGD leading by 2 turrets and a drake.
Both teams picked up the next couple of drakes without any interruption from either team.
Slowly but surely EDG started to get into their game by picking off members that are out of position and with taking down a couple of turrets they lead by 20 minutes. 3-2 turret lead for EDG in combination with a 3k gold lead, yet a 1 drake deficit.
Both teams had limited vision at this time and as the 4th drake spawned, a amazing teamfight occured. Koro1 was late to the party as Acorn was hammering down and splitting up EDG’s members with the Mega Gnar taking out Meiko and Clearlove. Koro1 who flanked Imp took him out as PyL was quickly to fall after. Low members health members were piled up in the dragon area but fancy hopping from Acorn gave them the advantage as GODV cleans up another 2 kills and secures the ace and the 3rd drake.
EDG didn’t let this small defeat influence their game, as they continued to pick off members. Pyl fell in the midlane and as EDG turned towards the baron, GODV was turned in for a nice amount of gold. EDG takes down the baron and siege upon LGD with their poke comp.
A bot inhibitor and top inhibitor turret fell to EDG’s pressure as they create a even bigger gold lead for them to work with. EDG’s poke comp made it impossible for LGD to set up any form of a decent teamfight as they were too low to engage when they wanted too.
As the 6th drake spawned, LGD having 4 drakes because they sneaked a fast dragon after EDG took down their baron, EDG was in the better position. EDG poked LGD into the bottom tribush next to the dragon pit to set up Koro1 coming in from the back and Pawn to shockblast 3 members to their graves.
As LGD ran for their lives, EDG marched upon their enemies base and tie the series 1-1.
Game 3
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The early game being just as bloody as the previous one resulted in a early teleport to the midlane. GODV who was being ganked by Clearlove and Meiko got help from the Teleport Guru Acorn. Turning the gank in favor of EDG where they come out with 2 kills to 1. The action continued mid but no souls dropped.
A well played shockwave by GODV with some help from Pyl lead to another death onto Pawn and the drake for LGD.
The second drake was picked up also by LGD, a small skirmish that got turned in favor of LGD thanks to another godlike shockwave coming out of GODV sealed the deal. The small fight afterwards got turned into LGD’s favor also, as they took a small gold lead but above all a mental lead over EDG.
GODV’s positioning in these skirmishes/teamfights is to be praised, he understands his champions limits and plays it to full perfection.
EDG stayed near LGD, within 1k gold, but this escalated quickly after a wonderful flank from Koro1 who caught out the 5 fleeing members from LGD. Meiko’s hook onto Imp into the Mega Gnar’s Gnar! turned the fight into a aoe fest for EDG. 5-1 was the victory here and they picked up the Baron.
LGD took the next 2 drakes, leading 4-0 in drakes but, during the 4th drake fight, Clearlove come up big setting up the wombo combo for Koro1. The Glacial Prison hit multiple LGD members who were too close to eachother as Koro1 Gnar! them into the side of the dragon pit. Deft and Pawn using their AOE abilities to create the clean ace in their favor.
EDG who with the baron buff earlier and after the ace took mulitple objectives to grab a gold lead and more map pressure, set up for a last fight around the baron pit.
As EDG chased LGD out of their jungle, Clearlove hit a 3 men Glacial Prison while Koro1 once again jumped into the backline to Gnar! GODV and Imp into the wall.
EDG coming up with their second clean ace of the game and take their second match to take a 2-1 lead in this series.
Game 4
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The fastest game of the entire series, with again a lot of action going down early.
Kills were picked up all over the map as both teams were roaming around with multiple members. 6 souls got traded for some gold, 3 for each side as LGD took the early advantage by picking up the first drake.
Before the 2nd drake spawned, LGD took out the remaining outer turret to create more map pressure as they set up for the first real fight. EDG who just backed off from the drake, restarted it but had to give it up to the flashing yeti who stole it with the smite.
The fight after the steal from the delinquent yeti went in favor of LGD. Acorn and TBQ zoning EDG brilliantly as they soaked up all the damage while GODV and Imp could direct their abilities at the enemy team to take a 3-0 victory in this fight.
This first fight got crowned with a baron buff that just spawned for LGD. A fast buy coming out of LGD to make ready for a final push? Yes, a final push! They sieged upon the top turrets of EDG, a beautiful placed 2 men shockwave coming out onto Pawn and Deft blew up the damage from EDG. LGD took out the T2 turret and forced their way toward the inhibitor.
LGD took out the final outer turret on the botlane as they set up to rotate mid and again have GODV place a double man ult onto both Deft and Pawn to force EDG’s damage away from the fight. Clearlove got taken out and LGD cleaned up, taking down the nexus with brute force! A well calculated use of the baron buff brings LGD into the final game of this series!
Game 5
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There was no doubt in anybody’s mind that LGD was going to grab their first major title as a organisation and represent MSI as the true number 1 of China.
The pressured applied onto Pawn’s Twisted Fate lead to 3 early deaths and set him miles behind for the entire match.
Blood was being spilled all over the map, Pawn was being hunted by the LGD members. A comfortable lead created by LGD got turned after a couple of overextended plays in the middle lane, giving EDG the enough kills to get back into the game.
A 4 men gank in the toplane from EDG lead to a kill onto Acorn and the outer top turret, LGD responded immediately with Imp firing down both middle turrets to give them the advantage in this trade.
A the 20 minute mark the gold and turrets were even, a 2-1 dragon lead in favor of LGD as all 3 dragons for both teams were uncontested.
LGD was all over the map, good warding, strong useful rotations and trying to punish Pawn for being on the rift.
Both teams turned towards the baron and the fight for vision started. EDG slowly lost control of the baron area and LGD decided to give it a go.
EDG collapsed onto LGD, a beautiful Hecarim ult caused enough chaos for Clearlove to tunnel into the pit, knock up some members and outsmite TBQ’s Nunu! Yes, LGD choose to go for the baron and failed, they possibly threw the game right here, or did they?
The baron buffed EDG members take down the middle lane including the inhibitor and lead the game by 5k gold combined with a lot of map pressure.
The 5th drake, second for EDG, was picked up right before the baron respawned and as both teams farmed up towards this fight it was most probably going to be the final fight of this incredibly nailbiting series.
LGD start the baron off again, as Koro1 makes another fantastic teleport play and goes down for the team after causing enough chaos and damage for Deft to step up! Deft, the former Samsung Blue member, Sensei of ADC’s in teamfights, he gave a lesson in positioning here as he lead his team to victory after a well earned PENTAKILL IN THE FINAL FIGHT, IN THE FINAL GAME OF THE SPRING SPLIT PLAYOFFS!
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Roundup
LGD Gaming put up a great performance this series, pushing EDG to their limits in this 5 game thriller! Whereas LGD won the Oscars before the playoff started, their turnaround stunned every LPL watcher. Forcing EDG to a final match with world class play and good dragon control has put LGD on the map as a top 4 team in the world.
Deft and Imp were being praised all over the social media, but the true heroes of this series were both top laners, Clearlove and GODV.
GODV’s Orianna came up big in every game with beautiful shockwaves. GODV’s Orianna is comparable to Faker’s Leblanc, only GODV’s Ori is not undefeated. His impact in all 5 games was outstanding and significantly more than Pawn’s impact. Pawn still did a great job, especially in the final match where he was miles behind in gold and experience but still made it work for his team. Splitpushing and ultimates to spot out LGD was his way of making his pressence known during this final match where he got bullied.
Koro1, who lost his 100% winrate on Gnar, and Acorn have performed above expectations. Both players are fantastic solo laners and their teleport plays are top notch, but nobody expected this quality coming out of them.
EDG won the most teamfights during the series and Koro1 was the biggest factor in each and every one of them. On the Gnar he would jump towards the carries and Gnar! them for a quick death. With the Hecarim he would cause chaos combined with a disgusting amount of damage as his teammates cleaned up the fights. Same goes for Acorn, his teleport plays gave his team huge advantages and same goes for his Hecarim. Both players deserved to win the cup but unfortunately only 1 could hold it above his head.
Both junglers had a huge influence in this series, TBQ missing out on the Consume+Smite combo where Clearlove stole the baron away to eventually lead his team to victory. Not only in the 5th game did Clearlove came out big, in the previous games where he played Sejuani, his ultimates turned teamfights in EDG’s favor.
To round this series up, LGD has played the best series of their existence and we can look forward to a great team that is now preparing for the summer split.
Edward Gaming continues their road of victory to represent China at MSI, starting on the 7th of May.
Congratulations to Edward Gaming and also LGD Gaming for showing us the best League of Legends series in LoL history!
