Melany M. September 17, 2018
SKT and MVP met again in week five of the LCK Summer Split. Both teams entered the match with a negative record, putting them in 7th and 8th place respectively. 2018 has been a challenging year for both squads and this match was critically important for each of them.
Game one started with an aggressive MVP squad pushing lanes whenever possible. SKT failed to react to MVP’s playmaking, but MVP’s earned advantage in kills on the map wasn’t enough to create a big advantage and the game remained mostly even.
SKT found ways to secure neutral objectives, simultaneously earning the baron buff and an elder dragon. The combination should have been enough to end the game, but MVP held firm and somehow won the game.
With playoffs on the line, SKT had to change the strategy. Game two would be defined by top laners Kang "ADD" Geon-mo and Park "Thal" Kwon-hyuk. The young players shined in team fights and made the game all about them.
Thal proved himself the better of the two, taking over scrambles between the two sides and handing SKT a much needed win through securing a baron buff.
The final game would decide if SKT still had a chance to qualify for playoffs This time, Bae “Bang” Jun-sik was the star.
The experience AD carry picked his iconic Ezreal for the final game. Every time the teams fought, Bang was present and dishing out damage. SKT capitalized on MVP’s mistakes and with a ten thousand gold advantage and a baron buff on their side, SKT was able to secure the win and keep the team’s playoff dream alive.
SKT must still win out in their remaining games this split in order to qualify for the LCK playoffs.