If you're simply interested in spoiler-free VOD links and NOT the coverage

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OMG vs. EP

After the prior IEM Shanghai event, the normal LPL is back in action and OMG was already kicking off an exciting weekend. In the very first game, we were already treated to a mid Pantheon pick from the likes of "Cool". This immediately began paying dividends when Cool would leap over a forest wall at level 1 to catch out Lee Sin, allowing LoveLin a first blood on Elise but quickly being disengaged before damage could happen by an excellent 5 man Nami bubble.

Energy Pacemaker would find revenge for Pantheon's early engagement by a well placed gank from the likes of LaoPi and Supercat. While LaoPi tried to apply the same pressure mid, he failed, undertaking quite a bit of damage while OMG's solo top and jungle roamed to the mid lane in a mad rush to take out an early middle tower. When EP came to apply counter pressure, it was bad news for OMG as all were shoved back and the Hong Kong squad quickly caught OMG out.



A leap of faith to kick off the action. ​

Not all was grim for OMG in this action packed 7 minute point though, as San's Graves would provide tremendous pressure in the bottom lane, shoving to the second tower and forcing Shen to back to defend it. While OMG surely payed the price, they were still successfully taking turrets and were up 2-0 8 minutes in with San's Graves proving to be a split pushing terror.

Though Energy Pacemaker was putting up a strong fight, OMG's bravery was apparent as Cool built a Sword of the Occult on his Pantheon, anticipating kills later. Perhaps a bit cocky, Energy Pacemaker closed the gap quite a bit in the mid game to catch OMG off guard, but an invade led by Pomelo's Blitzcrank would quickly turn things back in OMG's favor with an excellent teamfight advantage for OMG. Eventually, OMG developed too large of a lead for Energy Pacemaker to overcome.

​ VOD (click for full-screen)

PE vs. RC

The second game of the day would feature yet another Pantheon, though this time played in the support role. Royal Club had a very unique team composition which also included Vi and Fizz. Although they are generally seen making aggressive early plays, both teams resided in their own jungle at the start and Royal Club pulled an Ezreal and Pantheon duo lane middle to deny and eventualy dive JoJo's Zed.

The pressure derived from the aggressive duo of Royal Club forced Jing to occupy mid to hold the lane, allowing Godlike much needed free farm on Jarvan. When Positive Energy's duo came to meet Royal Club's in the mid lane and commenced a lane swap, Ezreal would meet his demise and miss a load of creep experience to tower.



Both teams featured a fierce AoE kick. ​

Around 15 minutes in, Royal Club would find their first tower of the game, but then became met with a massive teamfight that, leaving Positive Energy with a kill advantage as well as a 2 tower advantage and keeping the momentum heavily in their favor. As if the lead wasn't enough, the gold distribution was greatly in favor of Positive Energy as well, with Twitch residing at 6-1-2 by the 20 minute mark and lots of gold on JoJo's Zed as well.

Off of their map advantage, Positive Energy would find several picks which allowed them to siege turrets further. While Royal Club found some opportune engages, it was too little too late as the gold disparity would be blatantly obvious based on the damage received on Positive Enegy. PE would then pick up baron and eventually clean up the game.

VOD (click for full-screen)

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iG vs. LMQ

Invictus Gaming vs. LMQ started out with PDD being in the wrong place at the long time and losing the advantage of having an early flash in a 1v2 scenario. ZZ1tai set himself apart from other TF's fairly early by providing presence on the map and picking up the first kill of the game bottom lane. However, the game was still set as 1 to 1 with many low for Invictus Gaming in the first 5 minutes.

From the perspective of early game, it would appear that LMQ's bottom lane has seen a vast improvement with Tristana continuing the theme of being dominant early game despite being known to scale late. Despite the early advantage given to LMQ by iG, iG's experience would surely shine through as they continued to play catch up and even pull ahead in gold. However, LMQ's 5-1-2 Tristana was still a large gate in the path of iG's success.



FIELD GOOAAAL!! And the crowd goes wild...literally! (27:22) ​

Even though LMQ had a significantly fed and farmed AD, she was a bit too overzealous with her rocket jumps and oftentimes met her demise early, eliminating a large chunk of damage potential from LMQ's arsenal and giving iG several freely won teamfights. Illusion, who was playing an amazing Nocturne, would also make life difficult for the little yordle.

While LMQ had the better late game carries, Invictus Gaming had the much stronger late game potential due to the global preence of Nocturne and Twisted Fate. A failed "xPeke" from PDD would set IG's victory slightly behind, although after an baron from iG, LMQ would pull up the white flag and surrender, perhaps a bit prematurely.

VOD (click for full-screen)

WE vs. YG

A passive start would begin the last game of the night for World Elite vs. Young Glory. World Elite's Weixiao would draw first blood early in the game with the help of a fantastic Grasping Roots at the hands of Fzzf. On top of that, the tower was very nearly destroyed. The tower was destroyed bottom early for World Elite, allowing them to swing mid and for Weixiao's murderous rampage to continue.

Since World Elite had an early game advantage with a largely latre game team composition, they acheived their strength more often than not at later phases in the game extremely early, allowing them to press the turret and global advantage. World Elite were able to ward deep off of this and continue their excellent control over the map.



Fzzf placed an awesome root which would give Weixiao an early advantage. ​

World Elite continued to push their dominance by shoving lanes and invading the enemy jungle as a team in a typical old-school Chinese fashion. Even though World Elite's sieging potential with their composition had much to be desired, some well placed condemns at the hands of Weixiao were able to win team fights for his team.

Caomei's Kennen was given excellent situations to utilize his ultimate with the utmost efficiency and crush through teamfights, CC-botting and rampaging through the enemy team with loads of damage. Although Young Glory had some strong waveclear, they were still unable to defend objectives while World Elite simply blitzkrieged through their base and closed out today's LPL with a win.

VOD (click for full-screen)

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End Game Builds

STANDINGS