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
Esports Betting
These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4
Ben Boland
The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...
League of Legends
Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends
Hannan Mundia
After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More
Hannan Mundia
2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...
League of Legends
LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...
League of Legends
How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version?
Hannan Mundia
League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...
League of Legends
Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode
Hannan Mundia
League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...
