MAD Lions ends Schalke miracle run in LEC, qualify for LoL Worlds
It was do or die for MAD Lions and FC Schalke 04 in the 2020 LEC Summer Split playoffs, but MAD Lions came out on top with a 3-1 victory.
The miracle run of Schalke added extra intrigue to the match, which saw the underdog squad come within one match of qualifying for the 2020 League of Legends World Championship. The match was no less important for MAD Lions though, as the team needed to slam the door on Schalke’s run in order to qualify as well.
A few weeks ago, Schalke was sitting with a 1-10 record at the bottom of the LEC, with little to no hope of reaching the playoffs. After hitting rock bottom, Schalke made a complete 180 turn and qualified for the playoffs.
While Schalke were the fan favorites, MAD Lions has shown throughout the year how good it can be. MAD Lions lost to G2 Esports 3-1 earlier in the playoffs, but the games were closer than the scoreline indicates.
Schalke got the perfect start in the series after a great game where it shut down all the aggression of MAD Lions. The squad picked up a team fight composition with good scaling, but didn’t need to reach the late game before they got the lead. Erberk “Gilius” Demir and Matúš “Neon” Jakubčík secured the team one pick after another, which ultimately gave them the enemy nexus.
After a great first game for Schalke, it was time for MAD Lions to answer back. The Lions drafted themselves another early game composition and this time, they managed to snowball through the mid lane. Marek “Humanoid” Brázda had some great plays on Akali assisted by Zhiqiang “Shad0w” Zhao’s Lee Sin. The game was enough for MAD Lions to secure themselves the momentum and pick up another convincing victory in game three and put Schalke on match point.
On the verge of defeat, the pressure really seemed to hit Schalke. While they fought bravely they couldn’t stop Shad0w’s Lillia, who punished them hard. MAD Lions were in control of the game and snowballed the lead to a final victory.
MAD Lions qualifies for LoL Worlds 2020 for the first time
MAD Lions secured itself the last European spot in Worlds 2020. This will be the first international showing for the young squad, with Humanoid being the only player that has previously made it to LoL’s grandest stage.
MAD Lions will go into the tournament as a wild card that could upset some of the big teams. They have shown in the LEC that they can challenge the best teams on the right day, so it will be interesting to see these young talents perform on the world stage.
MAD Lions will play its next match against Rogue in the lower bracket on Sunday, August 30.
Read Also
League of Legends
The Top-Earning League of Legends players of all-time
Hannan Mundia
League of Legends is one of the most profitable competitive games around, with its popularity meaning that players at the top are very well paid. Here we will compile a list of the top-earning League of Legends players of all-time. The esports scene has exploded in popularity in recent years, largely due to League of Legends. The game paved the way for other competitive games and has been going strong ...
League of Legends
LoL Worlds 2026 returns to the USA: Locations, venues, dates and slots revealed
Owen Harsono
Riot Games have revealed important details for the highly anticipated worlds 2026 tournament, including locations, dates, and some great news for South American fans. Here’s everything we know about LoL Worlds 2026 so far. On March 22, First Stand grand finals day held in São Paulo, Riot Games confirmed the tournament will be hosted in the United States. This will be the fifth time in history that Worlds has been ...
League of Legends
How to watch League of Legends 2026 First Stand
Hannan Mundia
2026 First Stand is shaping up to be the most intriguing League of Legends tournament of this year, prompting the question of how fans can watch it. Riot Games is usually fairly lax about streaming its events, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can stream them live. With this year’s First Stand being the first opportunity fans have to watch how their favorite teams stack up on the big stage, ...
League of Legends
List of qualified teams at First Stand 2026: Who are the favorites?
Hannan Mundia
With the first split of every competitive League of Legends region concluded, the list of qualified teams for the 2026 First Stand tournament is set. Last year's First Stand saw just five teams compete. The stakes are upped this year, with eight First Stand teams coming together for a chance to win the first international event of the year. Here are the teams that made it and who the outright ...
League of Legends
League of Legends 2026 First Stand preview
Hannan Mundia
First Stand will be the first competitive League of Legends international event of 2026. This preview goes through all of the necessary details, including First Stand's location, prize pool, and schedule, ensuring fans can tune in live to support their favorite teams and players. The 2026 First Stand is the newest of the three international competitions in the circuit. Launched in 2025, this year’s tournament is slated to start on ...
Esports Betting
FEARX vs Dplus 2026 LCK Cup playoffs: Preview, betting tips & predictions
Hannan Mundia
FEARX and Dplus KIA will compete in the 2026 LCK Cup lower bracket final to determine which team will face Gen.G in the grand final, and this betting preview highlights all of the important details about this upcoming match. While FEARX and Dplus KIA both went into this split as the underdogs, the two teams have surprised many with their performances since. Reaching the top three in a competitive region ...
Esports Betting
LYON vs Team Liquid 2026 LCS Lock-In predictions, key stats, odds & more
Hannan Mundia
LYON and Team Liquid are slated to face off in the 2026 LCS Lock-In playoffs, and this betting preview highlights the stats and form behind both teams to help you make more accurate predictions and picks. Despite the subpar performance of both teams in the Swiss stage, Team Liquid and LYON have seemingly bounced back in the playoffs. Both teams comfortably won their lower bracket quarterfinals matches without giving a ...
