The results of today’s matches were quite unexpected. Both Samsung Galaxy and KT Rolster are considered two of the top teams in the world, making these results a bit shocking. It’s important to note that these games are being played on the now obsolete patch 6.21, so these teams might not be practicing as much as they normally would for another tournament.
Samsung Galaxy vs. ESC EVER
Winner: ESC EVER
Game One:
Winner – Samsung Galaxy
Bans
SSG: Nidalee, Varus, Elise
ESC: Viktor, Karma, Kennen
Champions
SSG: Jayce, Olaf, Ryze, Jhin, Zyra
ESC: Poppy, Lee Sin, Syndra, Caitlyn, Nami
With neither team fielding any substitutes, both SSG and ESC came into this match with the sole intention of winning. SSG started this game strong. Both of SSG’s side lanes had a kill at 10 minutes, and Lee “Crown” Min-ho managed to not fall behind after dying to a gank.
The top lane in this match was explosive. At 19 minutes Kim “Crazy” Jae-hee solo killed Lee “CuVee” Seong-jin. Unfazed by his death, two minutes later, CuVee turned the table and solo killed Crazy. This game was relatively close, with SSG having a slight gold lead. The play that broke the game open was a Baron sneak at 31 minutes by SSG.
After taking the Baron, SSG transitioned into three quick kills across the map (CuVee solo killed Crazy again in the bot lane during the Baron take). SSG fully utilized their Baron, destroying two inhibitors and one Nexus turret. At this point, CuVee was unstoppable. Nobody on ESC could stop his split pushing since CuVee could solo kill anybody on their team. SSG then found a pick at ESC’s bottom inhibitor, which caused ESC to engage in a team fight. SSG easily aced ESC and closed out game one.
Game Two:
Winner – ESC EVER
Bans
SSG: Nidalee, Varus, Elise
ESC: Viktor, Poppy, Ryze
Champions
SSG: Kennen, Lee Sin, Syndra, Ezreal, Karma
ESC: Jayce, Olaf, Vladimir, Jhin, Thresh
This match’s early game was entirely focused on the bot lane. Repeated roams and teleports to the bot lane by both SSG and ESC resulted in many kills traded. Despite all of the skirmishing, the game was quite even. It wasn’t until the 26 minute mark where ESC took control of this game. A team fight broke out in the mid lane that ended with ESC securing four kills. ESC used this advantage to grab the Baron.
Despite being behind, SSG still found picks around the map to stay competitive. At 34 minutes, ESC snuck a second Baron. ESC used this power play to take all three of SSG’s inhibitors, but overstayed, causing SSG to grab three kills and stay in the game. What finally ended the game was the third Baron. SSG miraculously stole the Baron but lost three members in the process. Despite Kang “Ambition” Chan-yong’s valiant attempt to stall out the death timers, ESC easily closed out the game.
Game Three:
Winner – ESC EVER
Bans
SSG: Nidalee, Varus, Jayce
ESC: Viktor, Ryze, Syndra
Champions
SSG: Gangplank, Olaf, Orianna, Jhin, Zyra
ESC: Shen, Elise, Cassiopeia, Ashe, Thresh
Like the previous game in this series, game three was filled with cross map skirmishes. ESC secured first blood on Crown through a Shen ultimate, but a roam to the mid lane by SSG’s bot lane got the return kill to even out the score. After this point, the game devolved into a killing frenzy. Both mid laners were roaming to the side lanes with their junglers, causing multiple team fights to ensue.
Just like game two, ESC took control of game three by sneaking the Baron at 32 minutes. After this Baron take, ESC snowballed out of control. Lee “LokeN” Dong-wook hit almost every Ashe ultimate he fired, allowing his team to get a ton of picks. SSG looked to have a breath of life 40 minutes into this game. Finally, a perfect Gangplank ultimate helped SSG win a team fight and take the Baron. But SSG’s hopes of winning were crushed shortly after, with ESC catching out and almost acing the world finalists, thus ending the series to move on to the round of four.
KT Rolster vs. Kongdoo Monster
Winner: Kongdoo Monster 
Game One:
Winner – Kongdoo Monster
Bans
KT: Echo, Jhin, Nidalee
KDM: Jayce. Bard, Vladimir
Champions
KT: Trundle, Elise, Ryze, Ashe, Karma
KDM: Poppy, Lee Sin, Syndra, Ezreal, Braum
KT Rolster’s new jungler Moon “Steal” Geon-yeong did not have an impressive debut match. Getting caught trying to invade KDM’s jungle, Steal gave up first blood to Lee “Edge” Ho-seong’s Syndra. Every other member of KT was either winning or matching their lanes, but Steal’s failed gank attempts and inability to match KDM’s jungler put the rest of KT behind. By 20 minutes, Steal had over 60 percent of KT’s deaths. KDM picked up two Barons without much resistance. Then, KDM marched up mid with their second Baron buff and cleanly ended the game. This match illustrated just how important Go “Score” Dong is to KT.
Game Two:
Winner – KT Rolster
Bans
KT – Echo, Jhin, Karma
KDM – Jayce, Syndra, Nidalee
Champions
KT – Rumble, Olaf, Ryze, Caitlyn, Zyra
KDM – Poppy, Lee Sin, Viktor, Ashe, Nami
As expected, Score was subbed back in for game two, and boy what a difference he made. The first 20 minutes of this game was a total stand still. Aside from a couple of random kills, both teams spent the entire early game farming. The first team fight didn’t occur until the 20 minute mark, where a pick on No “Arrow” Dong-hyeon turned into a team fight victory for KT, securing three kills for one.
A couple of minutes later, the same situation occurred. This time, Ha “Hachani” Seung-chan was the one caught out, and KT secured four kills. KT immediately headed for the Baron, where they easily grabbed the buff and proceeded to destroy KDM’s bottom inhibitor. A very messy team fight broke out at 33 minutes, where only Song “Fly” Yong-jun survived. Standing alone, Fly ended the game for KT.
Game Three:
Winner – Kongdoo Monsters
Bans
KT – Echo, Karma, Syndra
KDM – Jayce, Olaf, Vladimir
Champions
KT – Trundle, Lee Sin, Malzahar, Caitlyn, Zyra
KDM – Poppy, Rek’sai, Ryze, Jhin, Braum
Aside from a couple of picks, like the last game, both teams played incredibly passive. The first bit of action came at 22 minutes, where a skirmish in the mid lane landed KDM two kills and the inner/outer mid turrets. From there, both teams proceeded to not engage on one another for 20 minutes. KDM tried to take the first Baron, and later the Elder Dragon, but magically, Score stole both those objectives without dying, thereby keeping KT in the game. At 49 minutes, KDM finally took the Baron, and cleanly aced KT to win the series. I would recommend skimming through this last game as 30 minutes of it consists of nothing but farming and indecisiveness.
Who do you think will win the KeSPA Cup? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @GAMURScom.
Article by Malcolm Abbas. Follow him @SmashhLoL
Photos courtesy of FOMOS
Published: Nov 13, 2016 10:14 am