KT Rolster wins first LCK championship title

William Davis Published 08/09/2018

KT Rolster won its first LCK title after defeating rookie organization Griffin in the grand final at the Samsam Gymnasium in Incheon.

The summer season came to an end with the two powerhouses facing each other in one of the most anticipated finals in LCK history.

Game one kicked off with some surprising picks for KT Rolster, including Victor for mid laner Son “Ucal” Woo-hyeon and Jinx for Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu. On Griffin’s side, Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon introduced Urgot to the Korean meta.

The early game was even between the teams, but picks in the mid lane would prove the difference. Despite the best efforts from Go “Score” Dong-bin, Griffin secured the neutral objectives and collected kills across the map.

In the mid game, Victor was useless for the team and Jinx couldn’t deal enough damage to stop the enemy team. Griffin scaled both faster and harder. KT was able to hold their ground early, but after attempting baron at the 38th minute KT was aced and Griffin took the opening win.

In game two Score had a better start in the jungle, and his teammates took the opportunity to play a more aggressive style. Objectives went the way of KT and the increased pressure gave them better control of the map.

Score was the star of the game with his assertive rotations. At 30 minutes KT secured the baron and Deft netted a key triple kill. The resulting buff allowed KT to ace Griffin and win game two.

Griffin opened game three with a first blood in the bottom lane. KT was quick to respond with a double kill in the top lane, but after that the match was one-sided in favor of Griffin.

Griffin’s split push strategy created an advantage and KT was spread thin in an attempted defense. KT’s based was open within 25 minutes, and a Griffin victory shortly followed.

At match point, it seemed the title would go to Griffin. Griffin dominated game four in the early and middle game. But the table turned once KT was able to steal an elder drake. The buff allowed KT Rolster to be more aggressive with Smeb playing a strong front line and dealing most of the team’s damage. Griffin tried to split push again, but it wasn’t enough to stop KT from breaking through on the offensive to force a deciding fifth game.

That final game of the day started even. At 12 minutes KT began grouping around the map and collecting kills that translated into neutral objectives and map control.

KT broke into Griffin’s base at 35 minutes. Griffin’s defense was rugged, but outplays from Deft kept KT Rolster’s offensive moving forward.

The more experienced team showed once again why they are considered one of the best teams in the LCK as they aced Griffin before knocking down the enemy nexus and securing a pass to the World Championship as Korea’s first seed.

Griffin is now headed to the regional qualifier where the team will fight to keep its own World Championship dream alive.

William Davis

About William Davis

View full profile