S3WC: Quarterfinals Recap, Statistics, and Looking Forward

Standings

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Top 3 VODs

Cloud 9 vs. Fnatic (G2)VOD

Gambit Gaming vs. NaJin Sword (G2)VOD

Royal Club vs. OMG (G2)VOD

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These games were chosen for their immense entertainment value and all entailed close fights. In Game 1, we see Cloud 9 putting up an excellent fight against the increasingly dominant Fnatic Gaming. The second game on the list shows just how much of a hidden talent Najin Sword has been.

Even if Gambit Gaming are known as "Korean Killers" since the days of IEM Katowice, they were not able to underestimate the potential held by Najin Sword, despite them not participating in OGN.

The final game is the epic showdown between Royal Club and OMG where both teams really stepped up to the plate and performed at a level much higher than that of the Chinese qualifiers.

Quarterfinal Recap

​Even though OMG dominated the competition in LPL, Royal Club seems to have shown up as the greater team where it really mattered. OMG's consistent playstyle treated them well and caused them to top their groups. However, a combination of comfort picks and smooth transitions into different phases of the game caught OMG off guard, resulting in their defeat. In Game 1, Royal Club had Godlike to thank for showing why his Renekton must be banned, utilizing the midgame strength to roam early and establish map control for the team.

Many fans unfamiliar with Royal Club's performance in the LPL might have considered Tabe to be a one-trick wonder in his obscure support picks, having heard of his fabled Annie support "before it was cool." However, he quickly put that theory to rest in game 2 against OMG where despite a rocky laning phase, his three-man Crescendo sealed the game for his team. Uzi exceeded expectations with his mechanics, making some sick plays himself. However, we can't discredit the awesome peeling and protection provided by the team's bruisers who further enhance Uzi's kiting potential.

​Gamania Bears in the set prior, however, did not give the same showing as what those rooting for underdogs might have hoped. With many hoping they'd fill the shoes of the Season 2 World Champions and Southeast Asia saviors, 'Taipei Assassins', they just seemed outclassed by the legendary Faker and the rest of SKT T1. With somewhat promising performances rooting from NL and Maple, who went toe-to-toe with Faker for quite some time, Gamania Bears looked like they could potentially take games off quite a few teams in the group stage. Alas, their performance wasn't strong enough for a team who has a large chance to take first.

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Semi-Finals Preview

NaJin Sword vs. SKT T1

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This series, while many will not be awake to see it, is going to be a real treat for fans and players alike. We've seen Najin Sword's scary performance against Gambit Gaming and SKT T1 absolutely destroy the Gamania Bears as well as their own group stage. While SKT T1 qualified by being first in the Korean regionals, NaJin Sword found their way to Worlds through circuit points, only participating in NLB. Even though NLB is a much less representative league than OGN in Korea and is similar to that of the amateur leagues below the LCS, the vast talent pool in Korea keeps these teams strong and healthy for world-class competition.

The skill gap between these teams is immeasurable. While results in OGN and NLB respectively would show that SKT T1 is arguably "better", SKT T1 doesn't have as many recent games to scout as Najin Sword. Najin Sword comes into this matchup with a huge intel advantage, having been able to study the games of SKT T1 in their group stages. Najin Sword, on the other hand, only has their playoff games against Gambit to study. Either way, both teams are predicted to have been holding back strategies for when they really matter.

While SKT T1's strong suit entering this match will be their solo laner "Faker" as well as their jungler "Bengi", Najin Sword's fierce bottom lane will be a powerful duo that SKT T1 may not be familiar with facing in the OGN or regional playoffs. Najin Sword's Pray and Cain are a force to be reckoned with and may just be what they need to take this set, assuming the team builds their strategies around NaJin Sword's bottom lane. Najin Sword, on the other hand, will have to focus on shutting down faker, but also looking out for potential Bengi counterganks, as his "sixth sense" mindset allows him to predict these actions beforehand.

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​Royal Club vs. Fnatic

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As unpredictable as this matchup might be, one prediction is for sure: This match will be crazy. Even by Chinese standards, Royal Club's playstyle is completely misplaced from other traditional playstyles. While they adhere to standard Chinese aggression and proxying strategies, they throw in their own flavor that throws any team who hasn't studied off guard. Royal Club's champion pool is practically unlimited, but still has a strong enough favored champion pool that if not banned out will bring Fnatic to their demise.

Fnatic, on the other hand, has a composition that Royal Club will have to fear and look out for as well. Fnatic is extremely strong in their ability to utilize double AP compositions and double assassin compositions to compliment their excellent rotations. Royal Club will bring forth three man tower dives, but Fnatic has shown they are more than capable of being on the move at the proper time, defending every objective and forcing Royal Club into uncomfortable positions. Either way, we can look forward to plenty of mobility riding into this match.

What's going to be critical for both of these teams is the drafting phase, which could end the game before it starts. Drafting for these two teams is even more impactful, whether negative or positive, than it is for other teams. We saw evidence of this when Fnatic's favorite champions were left open in their battle against Cloud 9. If Royal Club can get ahead early and group before Fnatic's double AP / assassin-favored composition can get rolling, they will proceed to the finals. If not, Fnatic will thrive and represent Europe in the grand finals.

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Statistics

Highest KDA by Position

Position Player KDA Top Impact 30 Jungle Lucky 14 Mid Nagne 7.75 Marskman Piglet 17 Support PoohManDu 10.67

Most Kills by Position

Position Player Kills Top sOAZ / Balls 11 Jungle Bengi / Watch 10 Mid xPeke 19 Marksman Uzi 18 Support Yellowstar 8



Most Deaths by Position

Position Player Deaths Top Steak / Darien 10 Jungle Diamondprox 10 Mid Hai 17 Marksman NL 11 Support LemonNation 16



Most Assists by Position

Position Player Assists Top sOAZ 35 Jungle Cyanide 37 Mid xPeke 24 Marskman Puszu 28 Support Cain / PoohManDu 30



KDA by team

Team KDA (Average) 4.38 SKT T1 10.93 Fnatic 6.26 Royal Club 5.77 NaJin Black Sword 4.8 Gambit Gaming 2.48 Cloud 9 2.03 OMG 1.94 Gamania Bears 0.81



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