A Fierce Finish: LEC Week 2 Day 3 Recap
On our final day of Week 2, all ten teams walked on stage with a chip on their shoulder. Leading to some intense matches and a few heated walk-offs from the LEC stage in Berlin. Every team has looked shaky at some point this split, and heading into Week 3, it's more about who is going to stumble than who will succeed.
Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot GamesEXCEL vs. SK GAMING (0-1)
If there is one takeaway from this match, it is that Draven's cash-in can single-handedly win you a game. SK's AD Carry Exakick managed to get himself a 1,500G kill after accumulating close to 500 stacks on his passive. There was not a lot of action afterwards, understandable so, as who would want to challenge a three-item Draven at 22:00? SK pummeled the members of EXCEL back into their base as they sat and watched their nexus explode. SK improves to a 4-2 scoreline, while EXCEL drops to 2-4.
Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot GamesMAD LIONS vs. HERETICS (0-1)
MAD Lions fought hard to get an early lead. Heretics bounced back, utilizing Jankos’s Vi to get a few picks onto Hylissang and the game was decided after a fiesta in the Baron pit at 22:00. Heretics support Mersa had a beautiful Leona performance, showing fans and analysts alike that we are truly moving into an engage support meta. Both teams will enter Week 3 with a 2-4 record.
Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot GamesASTRALIS vs. VITALITY (1-0)
Vitality hasn’t looked as crisp as you’d like them to and Astralis played with absolutely zero fear because of it. Bot lane was a treat to watch as Kobbe proved to the scene that he deserves to be in the conversation for the best performing AD Carry so far this split. Photon’s Gwen scaled at an incredible pace and almost gave Vitality a way back into the fight, but Astralis finally closed out the game at 30:00 with a 4K gold lead. Astralis earned themselves this win, making their record 3-3 while Vitality fall to 4-2.
Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot GamesTEAM BDS vs. G2 ESPORTS (0-1)
This match was a complete scrap. BDS needed to show that they are truly a team to be reckoned with and G2 once again treated us with a unique draft, picking Twitch for their star carry Hans Sama. However BDS completely shut down the Twitch factor, and were off to a great start. A sketchy dragon soul fight allowed G2 back into the game, and with Caps on Azir, the scaling advantage was beginning to crush BDS. G2 eventually closed out the game with a baron empowered siege and BDS can’t help but feel like they fumbled this one. Both teams end the day with a 4-2 record.
Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot GamesFNATIC vs. KOI (1-0)
Once again, another Xayah pick for Rekkles. However it was his jungler Razork that stole the show early on. Executing multiple high-impact ganks and getting his laners ahead. He continued to dominate as the game progressed and genuinely solo-won the game for his team. A dragon fight led to KOI getting wiped from the map and spelling disaster for their performance this week. Fnatic ended the game with a 15K gold lead and an Infernal Soul as the cherry on top. They head into Week 3 with a 2-4 record and a sliver of hope to make the Group Stage, while KOI settle for a record of 3-3.
CURRENT LEC STANDING
Leaderboard for LEC Spring Split 2023 Week 2, Day 3. Image capture from Strafe Esports.
Image Sources: Riot Games