Hauntzer vs Ssumday: NA LCS WEEK 2, DAY 1 RECAP

Heading into the second week of play, the first game of the night featured Counter Logic Gaming against FlyQuest. After an unexpected 2-0 record last week, eyes were on FLY to see if their wins were flukes, or if they are the real deal.

The second game had hometown heroes, Team SoloMid facing the newly formed Team Dignitas. After both teams lost to Cloud9 last week, TSM and DIG came into week two of the LCS looking for their first 2-0 week.

FlyQuest 2-0 Counter Logic Gaming

FlyQuest had an explosive start to game one. Picking up from where he left off last week, Galen “Moon” Holgate started the series with yet another first blood, his victim this time being Counter Logic Gaming’s Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun. FLY beautifully used this advantage to dominate the early game. Moon’s great ganks in tandem with Hai “Hai” Du Lam’s Twisted Fate ultimates allowed FLY to secure many kills throughout the first 20 minutes.

In the mid game, however, FLY began to falter. Botched team fights and slower rotations on the side of FLY allowed CLG to inch back into the game. FLY, too eager on closing the game out, pushed too hard, a mistake CLG could exploit. Due to FLY’s mistakes, the game extended past the 30-minute mark. FLY found their win condition in a 39-minute Elder Dragon. Unable to match FLY with Baron, CLG crumbled in the following teamfight. FLY closed out the game through this teamfight win, finishing game one in 41 minutes.

Game two saw much more scrappy early game from both sides. Multiple skirmishes and teamfights occurred in the first 15 minutes of the game. Neither team came out ahead from the many fights, which caused both FLY and CLG to be quite even by the time 20 minutes rolled around. FLY finally found their lead through a teamfight in CLG’s jungle. Poor targeting on the side of CLG resulted in three members lost. With the man advantage, FLY grabbed an easy Baron. The buffed up FLY easily closed out the game from this point, ending game two at a quick 31 minutes, earning their third series win and starting the season off 3-0.

Team SoloMid 2-1 Team Dignitas

Game one started off relatively slowly. Aside from a few picks from either side, no real action occurred for the first 25 minutes. Dignitas found their lead 30 minutes in, off of a Baron steal from Lee “Chaser” Sang-hyun. Team SoloMid valiantly defended their base, keeping all three of their inhibitors.

Trying to fight back, TSM made a desperate Baron attempt at the 38-minute mark. Despite a secured buff this time, TSM lost the teamfight that followed. With no members of TSM remaining, DIG was able to take two inhibitors alongside an Elder Drake.

With the game looking bleak, through an amazing teleport engage by Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell, TSM found a teamfight win, killing four members of DIG. Looking like they were finally back in the game, TSM pushed toward DIG’s base. Seeing this, Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho made a hero play to teleport into TSM’s base. While the rest of DIG denied TSM’s recalls, Ssumday finally ended game one at 48 minutes.

TSM fired back in game two. Hauntzer, who was gifted first blood by Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen, took full control of his lane. Ssumday, who could do almost nothing, fell extremely behind. TSM transitioned Hauntzer’s lead to the rest of the team through great teamfighting. At 30 minutes in, TSM had a 6,000 gold lead as well as the Baron buff. With such a lead, TSM easily took out two of DIG’s inhibitors. DIG could do almost nothing, and were forced to watch their base crumble. TSM grabbed the following Baron at 38 minutes, which they used to close out the game.

TSM had complete control of game three. After getting two quick kills in the mid lane via roams by Hauntzer, TSM turned their heads to the top lane, finding yet another lead for Hauntzer. TSM spent the rest of the early game beating DIG with superior macro play, gaining objective leads throughout the map. DIG tried to make plays, but every play they made was countered by TSM.  

After winning winning a teamfight 24 minutes in, TSM grabbed an easy Baron. With such a lead, TSM had no problem ending the game. Grabbing an ace within DIG’s base, TSM destroyed the Nexus in a quick 29 minutes.

What was your favorite moment of the night? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @GAMURScom.

Article by Malcolm Abbas. Follow him on Twitter @SmashhLoL.

Photos courtesy of LoL Esports