Game 1:

Evil Geniuses Tyson “InnoX” Kapler (Top) Stephen “Snoopeh” Ellis (Jungle) Eugene “Pobelter” Park (Mid) Peter “YellowPete” Wüppen (AD) Mitch “Krepo” Voorspoels (Support) VS. Determined Gaming Jon “Westrice” Nguyen (Top) Ram “BrokenShard” Djemal (Jungle) Taylor “Arthelon” Eder (Mid) Robert “ROBERTxLEE” Lee (AD) Royce “Bubbadub” Newcomb (Support)

The History:

Here lies a conundrum: Velocity Gaming, unable to bring together a team, has sold their LCS spot to Evil Geniuses, who are fielding a roster consisting of members Krepo, Snoopeh, and YellowPete as well as former Curse player Pobelter and Napkins in Disguise member InnoX. This deal was announced on December 12th, meaning that this new squad has been together for only a short time. What does this mean? It’s hard to say. Obviously all members involved have significant experience, particularly the original EG members, but this iteration of the team has never seen competitive action before.

Determined Gaming (formerly To Be Determined) is a team which has gone through several changes over the past year, both in terms of roster and sponsorship, but right now they look the better for it. The current team came together under the sponsorship of FXOpen eSports, but left the organization mid-summer. Over the summer, Determined had positive results, taking first place at MLG Spring, placing highly in several consecutive ggLA Battle Arenas and holding a 13-9 record in the North American Challenger League (NACL). When jungler heaventime left the team, and NydusherMain was recruited by by The Walking Zed (GG.LA at the time), Determined Gaming acquired former DragonBorns player BrokenShard and Challenger tier support player Bubbadub. Top-laner Westrice is a player of renown, and his Akali play is particularly famous. The final member of the team, ROBERTxLEE, is perhaps best known as a streamer, but has significant competitive experience and has come into his own as one of the best AD players in North America.

Determined Gaming is team with a lot of turmoil in its history. Be it disagreement between players, arguments with various sponsors and managers, or struggles to find consistency in their play, Determined Gaming has certainly earned their name. However, the addition of BrokenShard and Bubbadub seems to have quelled the internal issues, Arthelon has overcome his limited champion pool and ROBERTxLEE, who suffered amnesia earlier this year and feared he would never again be able to play at a top level, has returned as one of the strongest members of the team. Through all that hardship, Determined Gaming emerges as a top contender to enter the LCS. The current roster has looked stronger than ever entering into their promotion match, finishing the group stage 4-1, beating even the fearsome Quantic Gaming. They took second in their NACL group with a 16-9 record, but fell to Coast in the semi-finals.

The Play:

Like I said, this EG squad has not only been together for a VERY short while, but has never played a competitive match. It goes without saying that the original members bring with them their team-work and synergy built up over years of playing together, and keeping the bot-lane duo of Krepo and Yellowpete together certainly helps, but when replacing two key members, synergy and communication do not form overnight. Pobelter, formerly of team Curse, has been a fixture of the North American competitive scene for some time, and has proved himself a strong mid-laner. InnoX is slightly less experienced, but no less talented, and his top-lane Nidalee is impressive. Overall, it is really hard to judge a team which no one has seen play outside of scrims. While the EG members bring their skills and coordination over the Atlantic, it remains to be seen how they integrate Pobelter and InnoX into their play.

Determined Gaming is a squad whose play varies greatly: one moment they look like a top-tier team, the next they lose miserably to even the lightest of competition. The addition of BrokenShard has added some much needed consistency to their play, and his experience has certainly been a calming influence on a team made tense by a hard summer of play. His addition is surely one of the reasons Determined Gaming has made it this far. His Lee Sin and Udyr have been strong in the Promotion Series. The dual lane of Bubbadub and ROBERTxLEE have played consistently well, and they are aggressive in lane, favoring Caitlyn and Lucian paired with Thresh. The two members of the team who are the most variable and unpredictable are Westrice and Arthelon. Westrice, despite his years of competitive play on teams like Epik Gamer and Curse, sports only a small champion pool revolving around Renekton, Rengar and his legendary Akali. If his champions are target banned, he can have trouble getting comfortable in lane. He is also notorious for his overly-aggressive playstyle, leading to throws. When BrokenShard can reign in the reckless talent of Westrice, Determined Gaming plays better. Arthelon is the team wild-card, and his play is wildly inconsistent. His Graggas is extremely strong, but he is occasionally rash in his decision-making and makes plays which cost his team the game.

For Determined Gaming, it’s all about which team shows up to play. When they are calm and collected, they smash through even the toughest opponents. But when they play emotionally and overly aggressive, they are their own worst enemies. That is not to say that they do not have the talent or will to make it into the LCS – they do. But they need to work together and not devolve back to the in-fighting and disagreements which nearly cost them their shot at the LCS.

The Result:

Determined Gaming has a new name and a new outlook, and that could carry them far into the LCS. If they don’t get too down on themselves, trust in their play and remain calm, there is no reason that can’t be one of the best. Opposing them is a squad still unknown in their play. The EG members are a proven product, but Pobelter and InnoX add a new dynamic to the team – whether they are stronger or weaker for it is unknown. My gut is telling me that Determined Gaming has got this; led by BrokenShard and backed by their recent successes, they should be feeling good heading into this match against EG.

Determined Gaming pushes through EG 3-1

Game 2:

Team Coast Darshan “ZionSpartan” Upadhyaha (Top) Joshua “Nintendudex” Atkins (Jungle) Danny “Shiphtur” Le (Mid) Apollo “WizFunjiiN” Price (AD) Miles “DayDreamin” Hoard (Support) VS. The Walking Zed Gabriel “Yazuki” Ng (Top) Kevin “KOR Kez” Jeon (Jungle) Aaron “Bischu” Kim (Mid) Cameron “bobbyhankhill” Nelson (AD) Philip “NydusHerMain” Sohn (Support)

The History:

Team Coast was largely inactive during the LCS break other than playing in the NACL. The only change was the stepping down of AD player DontMashMe, who was replaced with WizFujiin, formerly of Team Summon. The Coast which finished 9-19 in the Summer Split looked like a far cry from the squad that performed a deep run in the playoff of the Spring Split, and they will need to recapture that form if they hope to reclaim their spot. However, they took first place in the NACL with a commanding 24-2 group stage record on the road to a strong playoff performance; clearly the roster change has not slowed them down. If they can continue to perform as they did in the NACL and don’t return to their Summer Split ways, there is no reason Coast shouldn’t be able to reclaim their LCS spot.

Until recently, the team now known as The Walking Zed played under the tag of Gold Gaming Los Angeles, and has performed very well on the NA Challenger scene. Over the course of their time together, the team has made two major changes – competitive mainstay Yazuki replaced Quas when he moved to Curse, and AD carry otter was swapped out for bobbyhankhill, formerly of Team Astral Poke. The Walking Zed is a team chock full of players with competitive experience, with support player NydusHerMain having been a member of Determined Gaming, and mid-laner Bischu having subbed for Complexity before joining the squad. They placed well in the Spring Promotion Tournament, and finished with a 4-1 record.

The Play:

Team Coast’s LCS experience shows in their play: they have been cutting their amateur team group-mates to ribbons in the NACL. Shiphtur in particular has been impressive, and his play on Leblanc and Ahri has been devastating. New player WizFujiin stepped in late in the season, but he has been meshing with the team perfectly, and his Jinx play has been excellent. Nintendudex has often been regarded as one of the North American jungle innovators, and he has a fondness for jungle Graggas, but his Elise play is notable. ZionSpartan’s split pushing bruiser style on Riven and Jax works well with the rest of the team, but he struggles when behind and his laning is rather weak. DayDreamin is a monster on Thresh and Blitzcrank, consistently landing hooks when it counts. There’s not much to say here – Coast is a squad which has the potential to go far in the LCS, and has proved their dominance by winning the NACL in convincing fashion. The roster change has not phased them, and if they can maintain the form they have had the last few weeks, few amateur teams should phase them.

The Walking Zed is a team with a lot of potential, it only takes a few moments watching their play to see that. They have consistently beaten most other amateur teams, and they have the focus and talent of a team poised to enter the LCS. New addition bobbyhankhill’s Lucian play has been effective, and his synergy with NydusHerMain’s more defensive playstyle is evident. Yazuki has been a beast on split-pushing tanks like Shyvanna and Renekton – this patch really seems to favour his aggressive laning and he dominated matchups more often than not. Jungler KOR Kez, despite his lack of competitive experience, has been at the right place at the right time when it matters most. His play on Vi in particular has been noteworthy. It must be said, though, that mid-laner Bischu is the star of The Walking Zed. His reputation as the best mid-lane Nidalee in North America is well deserved, and he punished teams who are foolish enough to give the Bestial Huntress to him. His Graggas and Orianna (seen here a Shockwave sets up a winning teamgfight) play proves the he is not a one trick pony, and he consistently wins lane no matter the matchup.

If I had to pick an amateur team that looked the scariest, it would be TWZ. Their laning is strong, their coordination is solid and they play with tenacity and skill. Their performance in the Promotion Series makes them a formidable opponent for even the top LCS teams.

The Result:

This one is almost too close to call. Coast have consistently won over the last few months in the NACL, and their LCS experience should allow them to keep cool heads under pressure. The Walking Zed, on the other hand, have also been winning consistently even against still competition like Quantic Gaming, and should put up a heck of a fight. Shutting down the mid-laners is going to be key for both teams, as Shiphtur and Bischu have both proved their dominance – expect the junglers to gank early and often. In the dual lanes, I feel that Coast have a slight edge, as DayDreamin’s aggressive style completing WizFujiin’s Jinx makes for a potent laning combination. Across the map, Yazuki’s bruiser-heavy picks should get the better of ZionSpartan and keep him under control, allowing the rest of his team to work on controlling the map.

Like I said, this matchup seems extremely balanced, and it will come down to the team which can keep calm and play to their strengths.

Expect a slug-fest, but Coast narrowly edges out TWZ 3-2.

Game 3:

Curse

Diego “Quas” Ruiz (Top)

Christian “IWillDominate” Rivera (Jungle)

Joe “Voyboy” Esfahani (Mid)

David “Cop” Roberson (AD)

George “Zekent” Liu (Support)

VS.

COGnitive Gaming

Cristian “Cris” Rosales (Top)

William “Captain Ziploc” Despard (Jungle)

Francois “Zamphira” Boucher (Mid)

Gabriel “nothinghere” Charbonneau (AD)

Will “Zaineking” Bottrell (Support)

The History:

Curse, like many North American teams, underwent some roster changes during the off season. Jungler SaintVicious moved to a coaching position, support player Rhux was transferred to Curse Academy, and mid-laner Nyjacky formed team LoLPro. Curse acquired support player Zekent, IWillDominate moved from Curse Academy onto the main squad, and Quas was recruited from Gold Gaming Los Angeles. These new additions means that Voyboy has moved to the mid-lane. Quas is really the big story for Curse during the off season: he is a rising talent, regarded as one of the best top-laners of the amateur scene prior to joining Curse (not to mention a beast on Poppy). Although he only started playing competitively in May, expect big things from him. Curse participated in the North American Challenger League, where they finished with a group-stage record of 20-6, only falling to Complexity in the playoff semi-finals. However, for the last week of play (including the playoffs), LoLPro has subbed for Curse to give them more time to practice, meaning their last competitive game was December 11th.

The team now under the name COGnitive Gaming formed in April, and have performed moderately well on the challenger circuit since then. They snagged top 3 finishes in two ggLA Challenger Arenas, and earned their Promotion Qualifier spot in the Well Played Qualifier. They also participated in the North American Challenger League, and finished sitting near the bottom of their division with a 6-20 record. However they fared well in the Promotion Qualifier group stage, beating rivals Complexity and The Walking Zed to finish a respectable 3-2, earning their spot to compete for an LCS berth.

The Play:

Right now, Curse is hard to judge. While Cop, Voyboy and IWillDominate are all Curse mainstays, Quas and Zekent come to the team fresh. Zekent is a tested member of the competitive scene, having played for FXO/TBD, Absolute Legends NA, and 4Nothing. Quas’ short time on the competitive circuit has been explosive, and his top lane Swain, Poppy ,and Vayne are feared. He was a powerhouse on both New World Eclipse and Gold Gaming Los Angeles, so it’s no surprise Curse recognised his skill and picked up the promising Venezuelan. Many things about this Curse squad remain to be seen – they have only played together for a few months, Voyboy is still adjusting to a new role, and Cop and Zekent need to work out their lane synergy. Furthermore, they have yet to play a competitive match on the 3.14 patch. While I’m sure they have been scrimming non-stop in preparation for their relegation showdown, it’s hard to predict how they will play. Their performance in the NACL has been strong. They certainly have the raw talent to make it, however, and led by Cop and Voyboy’s experience, this could be a team Curse fans can get behind.

COGnitive's Captian Ziploc rampages on Olaf

On the other hand, COGnitive Gaming has been playing non-stop in many NA Amateur events. While their performances have not led to excellent results, they stepped up their game at the right time, winning clutch games against TWZ and Complexity in the Promotion Groupstage. Captain Ziploc has been favoring Olaf on the new patch, and uses him to great effectiveness. Mid-laner Zamphira is renowned for his Lulu, which more often than not draws bans, but he proved he can play Ziggs as well. Former Velocity top-laner Cris, who replaced iDream recently, has played very well, and meshed perfectly with COG’s style. His more carry focused play allowed Ziploc and Zamphira to focus on utility roles, which is their forte. Much like fellow NA team XDG.G (formerly Vulcun), COGnitive is at their best when they get on a roll, favouring more chaotic games in which they can snowball out of control. On the flip side, they tend to get out-rotated, and their map movement isn’t as smooth as other teams, leading to a loss of objective control in games where the opposition is able to control the tempo. COG drafts and plays in a style that leans towards skirmishes and fast-paced games, as they lack the laning strength and control of other teams.

The Result:

COGnitive, despite their strong play in the Promotion Groupstage, looked weak in the NACL, which should make them an opponent which Curse favors their chances against. Playing in the same group has given both teams plenty of time to study each other, but Curse has constantly gotten the better of COG throughout the tournament. Expect Quas, Voyboy and Cop to leverage their strong laning mechanics and use their LCS experience and deny COGnitive the skirmishes they love. If Curse can seize control early, there is no reason they shouldn’t be able to continue their dominance of COG and enter the LCS with confidence.

Curse deals with COGnitive Gaming 3-1

So those are my picks to win the Promotion Series and join the Season 4 LCS. Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!

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I'm Nicholas "Endspark" Doucet. Follow me on Twitter @GGEndspark, on Reddit or right here on GosuGamers.net