Counter Logic Gaming and Cloud9 are tied in second place in 2019 LCS Summer Split.
Entering Sunday a game apart on the season, Cloud9 had its eyes set on solidifying second place in the standings and keeping step with frontrunner Team Liquid. Instead, CLG managed to take a key win off Cloud9 and put itself in a stronger position with playoffs looming.
On CLG’s side, jungler Raymond “Wiggily” Griffin picked his first Skarner of the season. In the bottom lane, Trevor “Stixxay” Hayes locked in Sone. Not one to be outdone in the surprise department, C9 picked Malphite in the top lane for Eric “Licorice” Ritchie.
The counter pick in the top lane initially looked crafty as Licorice drew first blood with a solo kill versus Kim “Ruin” Hyeong-min, but CLG got the first dragon in response and kept playing for the neutral objectives. Licorice’s advantage over Ruin didn’t last long and the CLG player took over the lane. In the mid lane, Yasin “Nisqy” Dinçe on Vladimir struggled in the one-versus-one with Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage on Corki.
C9 was bleeding in the solo lanes so the team decided to collapse in the bottom lane. CLG used their TPs to join the fight and walked out of it with four kills, one dragon, and multiple turret plates.
CLG support Vincent “Biofrost” Wang on Tahm Kench used the Abyssal Voyage to keep the pressure on. Biofrost added a Dead Man’s Plate to his build for extra movement speed, an unorthodox choice for supports.
Not willing to give C9 a chance to get back in the game, CLG rushed the baron. Licorice and Nisqy jumped in and killed two enemies but it wasn’t enough to steal the objective.
Powered up, CLG went for the split push with Ruin and PowerOfEvil in the side lanes. The three remaining members of the team pushed in the mid lane and kept the siege going.
Tired of waiting, C9 committed five players versus the three in the mid lane. That play bought enough time for Ruin and PowerOfEvil to destroy the nexus without opposition.
With CLG’s win, they share a 9-5 record in the Summer Split with Cloud9. Team Liquid moved to 11-3 by Sunday night to retain first place. OpTic Gaming and Team SoloMid are battling for fourth at 8-6. Golden Guardians fell in the standings and is currently tied in sixth with 100 Thieves and Clutch Gaming. FlyQuest and Echo Fox close the standings in ninth and tenth respectively.
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