FlyQuest secure LCS spring playoff spot with Team Liquid upset

FlyQuest secured its path to the playoffs after a surprising victory over Team Liquid.

FlyQuest pulled one of the biggest upsets of the LCS split against Team Liquid. It all started in the pick and ban phase where FlyQuest drafted a poke composition. Liquid had the chance to counter-pick in the top lane, but instead drafted Kennen for Jung “Impact” Eon-yeong.

In the early game, Liquid jungler Jake “Xmithie” Puchero bullied Lucas “Santorin” Tao Kilmer Larsen out of his own jungle. Santorin was on the newly buffed Skarner but was unable to respond effectively and was forced to play from behind.

Xmithie and Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen went for an early dive in the bottom lane that secured three kills for Team Liquid.

Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng on Vayne for the second time in a week had a strong advantage against the enemy bot lane duo. The poke composition from FlyQuest couldn’t effectively poke, so the squad was forced to slow down the pace of the match and wait patiently to catch up.

At 20 minutes, Team Liquid had a four thousand gold advantage and destroyed each of the three outer turrets. FlyQuest took the time to farm and complete the necessary items for their next fight.

FlyQuest pulled the trigger and started a baron. Team Liquid tried to contest but Xmithie was the first to die in the ensuing action. The first baron went in favor of FlyQuest and finally gave the team the opportunity to poke and take turrets. Without a clear frontline and lacking a real tank, Team Liquid couldn’t stop the charge.

With new room to breathe, FlyQuest took a nexus turret and went for more. This time, Team Liquid was ready to punish and pushed FlyQuest out of the base.

The second attempted baron would seal the fate of Team Liquid. FlyQuest shifted focus towards killing Doublelift in the fight at the pit and that was enough to go for the nexus, no buffs necessary.

Team Liquid lost only its second game of the split and FlyQuest guaranteed a place in the playoffs. In the final week of the regular season, FlyQuest will face Cloud9 and Golden Guardians.