Intel Extreme Masters IX – Taipei

Summary

Though Avant Garde and the GPL representatives showed some sparks of life, it was ultimately the Taiwan show, with the yoe Flash Wolves taking home the gold over the Taipei Assassins, and ahq splitting the 3/4th slot with the Saigon Jokers. Every series besides the grand finals was a clean sweep, and even though many wished to see a slightly different result, it would appear that the GPL remains a class below the top LMS squads at this time.



Since the tournament took place in Taipei, it was only fitting that the finals gave stage to a domestic dispute. TPA sits on top of the LMS with an unblemished 7-0 record, but has found itself under increasing pressure from the rising challenge of 2nd place YFW. Eager to quell any thoughts of usurpation, TPA took a commanding 2--0 lead in fairly dominating fashion. Perhaps overzealous in attempting to close out the series, TPA let game 3 slip, giving YFW some breathing room. Wanting no party to TPA’s reign, YFW took that one game and turned it into a fantastic 3-2 comeback.



YFW were understandably ecstatic following their victory, while the TPA squad looked dazed. Despite the early lead, TPA played with a lack of focus and cohesion which ultimately proved fatal. TPA had multiple chances to close out the series during the last three games, but failed to execute properly. YFW must be commended for having the focus of strength of will to capitalize on TPA's missteps despite the 2 game deficit. Chawy and friends might need to do some soul-searching before the LMS re-commences next week, lest they suddenly find themselves subjects of a new ruler of the LMS.



With this win, YFW also secures a spot to the IEM Global Championships to be held later this year.

North America League Championship Series

Week 2 Day 1 GV 1 – 0 Dignitas

Team 8 1 – 0 CST

Cloud 9 1 – 0 Team Liquid

TiP 0 – 1 CLG

TSM 1 – 0 WFX



Week 2 Day 2 CLG 1 – 0 Cloud 9

Dignitas 0 – 1 WFX

Team Liquid 0 – 1 TSM

TiP 1 – 0 Team 8

CST 0 – 1 GV



– 0Dignitas– 0CST– 0Team LiquidTiP0 –– 0WFX– 0Cloud 9Dignitas0 –Team Liquid0 –– 0Team 8CST0 –

Game of the Week: TiP vs CLG

TiP picked a poke/disengage composition while CLG opted for the full frontal engage with Aphromoo on Blitzcrank. When two opposite compositions meet each other, action is guaranteed. While CLG had a small gold lead from the beginning, the game was on a knife's edge because one bad engagement from CLG would allow TiP to reverse the situation. It was a game with great plays from both sides and definitely one of the more action packed games in this week's NA LCS. TiP picked a poke/disengage composition while CLG opted for the full frontal engage with Aphromoo on Blitzcrank. When two opposite compositions meet each other, action is guaranteed. While CLG had a small gold lead from the beginning, the game was on a knife's edge because one bad engagement from CLG would allow TiP to reverse the situation. It was a game with great plays from both sides and definitely one of the more action packed games in this week's NA LCS.

Europe League Championship Series

Week 2 Day 1 H2k 1 – 0 MYM

Unicorns of Love 1 – 0 Giants

Fnatic 1 – 0 Roccat

SK 1 – 0 Gambit

Elements 1 – 0 Copenhagen Wolves



Week 2 Day 2 Gambit 0 – 1 Fnatic

Giants 0 – 1 H2K

Elements 1 – 0 Roccat

SK Gaming 1 – 0 Unicorns of Love

MYM 1 – 0 Copenhagen Wolves



– 0MYM– 0Giants– 0Roccat– 0Gambit– 0Copenhagen WolvesGambit0 –Giants0 –– 0Roccat– 0Unicorns of Love– 0Copenhagen Wolves

Game of the Week: Elements vs Roccat

Elements features in another EU LCS Game of the Week. While Elements didn't have the cleanest play, their games still had a sort of novelty. The game was a slugfest and both teams fought hard over every inch of the battlefield. The game hit a lull during the early late game as both teams were wary of making a catastrophic misstep, but ultimately proved interesting. The gold values were nearly identical over an hour long game with more than one Baron and a fully charged Dragon buff. You will either love it or hate it but there won't be something in between. Elements features in another EU LCS Game of the Week. While Elements didn't have the cleanest play, their games still had a sort of novelty. The game was a slugfest and both teams fought hard over every inch of the battlefield. The game hit a lull during the early late game as both teams were wary of making a catastrophic misstep, but ultimately proved interesting. The gold values were nearly identical over an hour long game with more than one Baron and a fully charged Dragon buff. You will either love it or hate it but there won't be something in between.

SBENU Champions Spring

Week 4 Day 1 IM 2 – 1 Jin Air



Week 4 Day 2 CJ Entus 2 – 0 Samsung

GE Tigers 2 – 0 KT



Week 4 Day 3 Jin Air 2 – 0 SKT T1

Incredible Miracle 0 – 2 Najin



– 1Jin Air– 0Samsung– 0KT– 0SKT T1Incredible Miracle0 –

Game of the Week: JinAir vs SKT T1, Game 1

Week 4 of Champions Spring 2015 brought us many long, intense games, but the best of the bunch was brought to us by Jin Air once again. Chaser's jungle dominance was on show again as he anticipated Bengi's every move and leveraged his knowledge to catapult Jin Air to a kill lead. Yet, SKT T1's lanes still prevailed despite Chaser's efforts, and with Marin's Renekton looking nigh unkillable, Jin Air found themselves in a dire situation. In the end, Pilot's Corki proved to be the biggest threat in the game, as he, well, piloted Jin Air to a slow win with some brilliant teamfight positioning. If any of your friends think the AD Carry position has trouble carrying a game in 2015, show them this game.

Week 4 of Champions Spring 2015 brought us many long, intense games, but the best of the bunch was brought to us by Jin Air once again. Chaser's jungle dominance was on show again as he anticipated Bengi's every move and leveraged his knowledge to catapult Jin Air to a kill lead. Yet, SKT T1's lanes still prevailed despite Chaser's efforts, and with Marin's Renekton looking nigh unkillable, Jin Air found themselves in a dire situation. In the end, Pilot's Corki proved to be the biggest threat in the game, as he, well, piloted Jin Air to a slow win with some brilliant teamfight positioning. If any of your friends think the AD Carry position has trouble carrying a game in 2015, show them this game.

Tencent LoL Pro League

Week 3 Day 1 OMG 1 – 1 Snake

SHRC 2 – 0 King

WE 0 – 2 LGD

EDG 2 – 0 iG



Week 3 Day 2 EP 1 – 1 GT

LGD 1 – 1 Snake

WE 1 – 1 VG

M3 0 – 2 OMG



Week 3 Day 3 M3 1 – 1 GT

VG 2 – 0 King

iG 0 – 2 Snake

EDG 2 – 0 SHRC





OMGSnake– 0KingWE0 –– 0iGEPGTLGDSnakeWEVGM30 –M3GT– 0KingiG0 –– 0SHRC

Game of the Week: iG vs Snake, Game 2

Snake continues to assert its dominance in the LPL, splitting 1-1 with OMG and LGD before destroying iG 2-0. KRYST4L has proven to be the true successor to the top-notch, aggressive ADC play that China is known for. After crushing iG with his signature Draven in game 1, KRYST4L forced iG to draft an anti-ADC comp, with Gnar/Vi/Lissandra looking to nullify the high damage Draven. Undeterred, Snake drafts Draven yet again, and complements the pick with a Nunu-Thresh double Crucible line-up, leading to yet another dominating performance from KRYST4L and cementing Snake as the team to beat in this year's LPL. Snake continues to assert its dominance in the LPL, splitting 1-1 with OMG and LGD before destroying iG 2-0. KRYST4L has proven to be the true successor to the top-notch, aggressive ADC play that China is known for. After crushing iG with his signature Draven in game 1, KRYST4L forced iG to draft an anti-ADC comp, with Gnar/Vi/Lissandra looking to nullify the high damage Draven. Undeterred, Snake drafts Draven yet again, and complements the pick with a Nunu-Thresh double Crucible line-up, leading to yet another dominating performance from KRYST4L and cementing Snake as the team to beat in this year's LPL.

League of Legends Master Series

Week 4

Week 4 had no games because of IEM Taipei.

No Game of the Week

See you next week!

League of Legends Japan League

Week 2

DetFM 1 – 0 O. Rampage

Rascal Jester 0 – 1 DetRF

Salvage J 0 – 1 7th Heaven



– 0O. RampageRascal Jester0 –Salvage J0 –

Game of the Week: DetonatioN FocusMe vs Ozone Rampage

Who says Ezreal has to build blue? Yutaproid shows off a new approach to the champion, going Brutalizer->Sheen->Essence Reaver to become a midgame powerhouse, leading to a dominating 9/1/16 finish. Rampage attempts to fight back, but now two games into the season it's already become difficult to imagine anyone but FocusMe taking home the Season 1 Championship. Start paying attention now, so you all can be hipster Yutaproid fans when he shows up at the IWCI later this year. Who says Ezreal has to build blue? Yutaproid shows off a new approach to the champion, going Brutalizer->Sheen->Essence Reaver to become a midgame powerhouse, leading to a dominating 9/1/16 finish. Rampage attempts to fight back, but now two games into the season it's already become difficult to imagine anyone but FocusMe taking home the Season 1 Championship. Start paying attention now, so you all can be hipster Yutaproid fans when he shows up at the IWCI later this year.

Circuito Brasileiro de League of Legends

Week 3 Day 1 Kabum O. 2 – 0 DXT

CNBeSports. 2 – 0 JAYOB



Week 3 Day 2 paiN Gaming 1 – 1 Kabum B.

kStars 1 – 1 INTZ



– 0DXT– 0JAYOBpaiN GamingKabum B.kStarsINTZ