They say that KT Rolster have already failed to meet expectations for this League of Legends Champions Korea split.

They say that 2017 LCK Spring, and the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational, already belongs to SK Telecom T1.

They select MVP as a possible wrench in SKT’s championship plans due to the team’s creativity and success on off-meta champions.

But they don’t say much about Samsung Galaxy. Few words have been spilled over SSG, who have already locked up second place and an automatic bye to the third round of the playoff gauntlet.

This Samsung Galaxy lineup is more familiar with flying under the radar than they are with being favored. Nearly half a year after SSG’s 2016 World Championship Finals appearance, many fans still aren’t quite sure what to make of the lineup. But despite only one significant roster move, SSG appear stronger than their 2016 World Championship iteration.

Last year, when KT was expected to secure Korea’s third seed, Samsung snatched it from them 3-2 with a superior understanding of the current meta and exemplary play from AD carry-turned-support Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in. When Team SoloMid were heavily favored to exit Group D in first place, Samsung took that title while TSM didn’t make it out of the group stage.

At the 2016 League of Legends World Championship Finals, Samsung stared down SK Telecom T1 and gave us the closest Worlds finals in the tournament’s history.

View photos Samsung Galaxy at the 2016 World Championship Quarterfinals (Riot Games/lolesports) More

Jungler and former CJ Entus mid laner Kang “Ambition” Chan-yong wasn’t pleased with their first loss to TSM in the group stages.

“We overcame our anger by practicing,” he said.

That first TSM match in San Francisco was Samsung’s only loss until their 3-2 defeat at the hands of SKT in the Finals. Ambition’s statement matched the intensity simmering beneath Samsung at Worlds, from the typically lighthearted top laner Lee “CuVee” Seong-jin and support CoreJJ to the outwardly mild-mannered mid laner Lee “Crown” Min-ho.

Known for his stern demeanor (and eerie resemblance to Korean baseball player/murderer, Lee Ho-sung), Ambition is often the butt of Samsung’s jokes. At the same time, he’s also their well-respected team captain. CuVee has pantomimed cowering in fear of Ambition’s ferocious temper and rumored baseball bat but is quick to gush over Ambition’s leadership, citing him as a key factor in their 2016 late-season rise.

This Samsung Galaxy is hungry for victory. They’re sometimes goofy, but always dedicated. In a world where many crowned KT champion before the split began, Samsung now not only looks better than KT, but also better than SKT at times.

When the two teams met for the first time this split, SKT predictably took the 2-0 victory. At the time, all eyes were on SKT’s Bae “Bang” Jun-sik, who was on the cusp of his thousandth kill in Champions Korea (he ultimately fell just short of reaching that milestone in the series.) When AD carry Lee “Stitch” Seung-ju and support Kwon “Wraith” Ji-min appeared in the Samsung booth for Game 2, many presumed that Samsung had already conceded, knowing that they couldn’t beat SKT with their most practiced lineup. Stitch and Wraith looked less coordinated than Ruler and CoreJJ. A key pick onto Crown in the blue side jungle led to an SKT Baron and sealed Samsung’s fate. Wraith’s support Kayle pick failed to impress.

Samsung returned the favor in their second meeting, sweeping SKT. In this methodical takedown of Korea’s top team, Samsung won with superior map control, using Haru’s jungle pressure to overwhelm SKT. SKT thrives in the mid-game thanks to sublime understanding of how to leverage pressure. They know where and when to cede advantages to their opponents while seeing several steps ahead, waiting until they can strike to regain what they lost and more. Samsung left few openings for SKT to execute this plan, striking early and rarely backing off.

Story continues