Nick G. August 12, 2018
If OpTic Gaming's playoff hopes are dashed, the team certainly missed the memo. The boys behind the Green Wall continue to challenge top teams in their last ditch effort towards playoff qualification.
Facing off against a talented Echo Fox roster, OpTic Gaming threw several curveballs during the draft phase. Noh “Arrow” Dong-Tak was given his signature Draven, and was paired with an enabler in Terry “Big” Chuong’s support Zilean.
The most exciting pick of the draft was saved for the very end. Echo Fox drafted a safe blind pick for Tanner “Damonte” Damonte in Zoe, but the recent surge of assassin play has presented players with more options when dealing with the Aspect of Twilight. Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage took melee assassin Fizz into the opposing Zoe pick.
While this game was played on Patch 8.16, PowerOfEvil was piloting the pre-hotfix Fizz. Based on that, it’s easy to see why OpTic was looking for an opportunity to execute on the pick. OpTic arguably apply greater emphasis around the middle lane than any other team in the LCS.
OpTic Gaming have three games remaining in the regular season. The Green Wall’s playoff hopes are still alive, but Team Liquid, TSM, and 100 Thieves still stand between them and a coveted 2018 NA LCS Summer Playoffs seed.