Today’s matchups in the KeSPA Cup were truly a David and Goliath story. The Korean challenger squads of Rising Star Gaming and KeG Chungnam were faced against the world championship finalists in Samsung Galaxy and SK Telecom T1. Tonight’s series were without a doubt the biggest stomps we have seen at the KeSPA Cup this year. Without further ado, here are the match recaps for the third day of the KeSPA Cup:
Samsung Galaxy vs. Rising Star Gaming
Winner: Samsung Galaxy
Game One:
Winner – Samsung Galaxy
Bans
SSG: Ryze, Jayce, Nidalee
RSG: Syndra, Ashe, Olaf
Champions
SSG: Poppy, Elise, Viktor, Caitlyn, Karma
RSG: Echo, Lee Sin, Orianna, Jhin, Nami
Fielding their sub AD Carry and support, Lee “Stitch” Seung-ju and Kwon “Wraith” Ji-min, Samsung had an extremely dominating game one. With all three lanes winning and a two minute solo kill by Samsung’s all-star mid laner Lee “Crown” Min, Samsung looked unbeatable. By 15 minutes, Samsung accumulated a 4k gold lead. Crown was unstoppable this game, being able to drop every member from RSG to half health with only Viktor’s death ray. Catching three members of RSG, Samsung used their advantage to take Baron, and end the game. RSG’s map play was very poor in this game. Commentator Nick “LastShadow“ (LS) de Cesare described RSG’s macro play as “solo queue esque.”
Game Two:
Winner – Samsung Galaxy
Bans
SSG: Nidalee, Jayce, Olaf
RSG: Syndra, Viktor, Ryze
Champions:
SSG: Kennen, Lee Sin, Zilean, Ashe, Zyra
RSG: Echo, Rek’sai, Orianna, Ezreal, Karma
This game was a lot closer than game one. This game started with a botched gank top lane by RSG that landed Samsung two kills. Crown then got another early solo kill in the mid lane, this time at five minutes. RSG responded to Samsung’s early lead with their top laner Park “Hyuni” Su-hyeon teleporting bot lane to grab two kills.
This is where RSG started to become competitive in this series. After winning a team fight at 11 minutes, RSG took the first dragon. From here, Samsung and RSG traded team fight wins. Despite all the kills traded, Samsung was able to maintain a 4k gold lead. At 30 minutes, Samsung snuck a Baron, but RSG took advantage of Samsung’s low health bars and created a team fight at Baron, which resulted in an ace for RSG. Samsung lost all three of their mid turrets from that wipe, but still maintained a slight gold lead. Samsung managed to sneak yet another Baron at 38 minutes, which they used to win the next team fight at RSG’s base and end the game.
SK Telecom T1 vs. KeG Chungnam
Winner: SK Telecom T1 
Game One:
Winner – SK Telecom T1
Bans
SKT: Mordekaiser, Gnar, Ryze
KCN: Syndra, Nidalee, Orianna
Champions
SKT: Jayce, Olaf, Malzahar, Ashe, Nami
KCN: Kennen, Lee Sin, Vladimir, Ezreal, Karma
SKT came into today also fielding a substitute. Former top laner for LPL team Young Glory, Jin “Profit” Jun-Heng replaced Lee “Duke” Ho-seong for this match. The early game was a complete stomp for SKT. All three of SKT’s lanes had an enormous lead on their opponents, both score and gold wise. Holding a 6k gold lead at 15 minutes, SKT was in full control of this game. But instead of pushing their advantages, SKT stalled out a bit, allowing KCN to nab a few kills. After a botched Baron attempt just a minute earlier, SKT caught out KCN’s jungler “Jaeha”, allowing SKT to take the Baron with ease. SKT used the Baron to ace KCN, and end the game.
Game Two:
Winner – SK Telecom T1
Bans
SKT: Mordekaiser, Gnar, Nidalee
KCN: Syndra, Jayce, Ryze
Champions
SKT: Echo, Olaf, Cassiopeia, Ashe, Nami
KCN: Kennen, Lee Sin, Vladimir, Jhin, Karma
Like the previous game, SKT had another dominating game to close out the series. Utilizing Profit’s teleport, SKT continued to make cross map plays. The members of KCN couldn’t leave their base without SKT rushing to their position almost instantly. By 20 minutes, SKT had an 11k gold lead and Baron. From this point, SKT went straight to the mid lane to close out the series in a quick 25 minute game. This game was ended so quickly and cleanly that there isn’t much else to say. Profit looked impressive in this series and it will be very interesting to see him in the upcoming LCK season.
What did you think about these matches? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @GAMURScom.
Article by Malcolm Abbas. Follow him @SmashhLoL
Photos courtesy of FOMOS
