The LEC moved into the second phase of the Winter Split and with it we saw two solid BO3 series - one being a lot closer than the other. Vitality decimated the MAD Lions with a 2-0 and a much better performance from their veteran mid laner Perkz, while Astralis crushed the hopes of Fnatic fans with a 2-1 game score and a solid showing from LIDER.

Photo by Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games

VITALITY vs MAD LIONS (2-0)

GAME 1:

The game started off relatively slow but bursted open at the first Rift Herald fight. MAD Lions won the fight, but weren’t able to get the Herald as it reset in an awkward fashion. A scrap in Bo’s jungle caused him to take an early death, but Perkz cleaned up the fight and walked away with three kills on Yone. He proceeded to hit multi-man Yone ultimates in team fights, setting up Upset to carry the rest. Vitality ended through top and looked more dominant than ever.

GAME 2:

Vitality’s bot lane got the early shove, allowing for Bo and Perkz to roam down and kill Carzzy once again. As a response, MAD Lions tried to dive Photon in the top lane but he relentlessly fought back on Olaf, flashed on Chasy, and struck him down. Just a few moments later, Elyoya tried to gank again and Photon almost 1v2'd them, killing Chasy once more but falling to Elyoya's Vi. Nisqy did what he could to salvage the game. He had some good cages on Veigar, but Vitality were too far ahead. At 28:00 they finished off MAD Lions and now advance to play Astralis in the Winner's Match.

Photo by Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games

ASTRALIS vs FNATIC (2-1)

GAME 1:

Astralis opened up the game aggressively by diving Rekkles while he was only Level 2, setting him far behind the rest of the game. LIDER had some great skirmishing on Yone, picking himself up two early kills and hitting a three-man ultimate at the second Rift Herald fight. However Fnatic were able to turn this fight in their favor and gain some ground in this game. Astralis won a massive fight and the third dragon fight and snowballed it into a Baron Buff. At 33:00, Astralis wiped Fnatic off the map and proceeded to siege their nexus.

GAME 2:

The draft of Game 2 featured some interesting picks from Astralis, of course. Finn locked in Illaoi, while LIDER picked his signature Zed. Fnatic punished the weak laning phase of Zed and dove him under his turret with their Vi + Lissandra combo. He did his best to fight back at the first dragon fight, getting two kills, but inevitably falling to the well rounded composition that Fnatic had drafted for themselves. Rekkles performed a lot better in this game and dealt a ton of DPS in the objective fights, allowing Fnatic to continue building their advantage, and eventually take down Astralis sending the series to a third and final game. He finished Game 2 with a 9/2/5 score line.

GAME 3:

The early game was incredibly scrappy. 113 and LIDER made play after play to try and get the Irelia ahead knowing that LIDER could carry. He scooped up three kills and an early Blade Of The Ruined King, making him a massive threat to Fnatic. At 15:00, Fnatic successfully took a dragon but in the mean time, Astralis used their Rift Herald to take two turrets in the mid lane and crack open Fnatic's base. At 23:00, Fnatic had a man-advantage and tried to take the Baron but it was heroically stolen by 113. Astralis proceeded to demolish Fnatic with LIDER's Irelia and successfully won the series.

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