LEC-LCS Playoff Sunday

(-190) Rogue v FC Schalke 04 (+145)

(-210) TSM v 100 Thieves (+165)

The match-up on Sunday is hotly contested between both regions: Rogue and FC Schalke 04 features a team that’s been steamrolling the lower bracket, but Rogue has been dominating the regular season before slipping in play-offs. Meanwhile, TSM and 100 Thieves face off, with TSM being heavy favorites due to their stronger middle laner. Let’s look into the picks

Captain

PowerofEvil ($10,800)

The largest gap between player skill in this series is, in my opinion, Ry0ma versus PowerofEvil: while TSM did drop against Team Liquid, I think it’s fair when they’re a top two team alongside Cloud9. 100T got a free shot off a Dignitas who wheeled in weak into play-offs, but I think TSM will be more eager to dust themselves off and smack 100 Thieves out of the event. I think the only other option I’d really consider is Hans sama and flipping the S04 vs RGE match-up.

Alternatives to consider: Hans sama ($11,700)

Top Lane

Odoamne ($6,200)

While Rogue dropped to the loser’s bracket, I still think they have a good degree of skill and can persevere well. Broken Blade versus Odoamne is a rough match-up, and while I think BB has been hitting highs, I value the consistency Odoamne offers versus the highs Broken Blade potentially does. If you want to go full fipper, Huni for top lane can show up versus a Ssumday who’s been on the mediocre side.

Alternatives to consider: Huni ($6,400)

Jungle

Inspired ($7,000)

Inspired versus Gilius and Spica versus Closer: Closer and Spica both have really high highs and are capable of being carry junglers in their own right. I value Inspired due to his ability to support his lanes without becoming a pushover like Gilius. I feel like Gilius supports his laners because he’s not capable of carrying in his own right, whereas Inspired does so because his laners are capable of repaying his investment back to him. For the NA match, I’d prefer Spica.

Alternatives to consider: Spica ($6,800)

Mid Lane

Larssen ($7,600)

While I think RGE vs S04 will be contested, I think Abbedagge will falter against Larssen. Abbe has held up well against Nisqy, Blue, and the pack of middle tier EU middle laners; but Larssen has a much higher ceiling relative to the other mid laners. Abbedagge is good, but we’ve already watched Caps do well against him, and I think Larssen will be more of the same. I recommend PowerofEvil as second, and would never recommend Ry0ma, so with PowerofEvil as captain and you don’t want Larssen, you’re stuck with Abbedagge.

Alternatives to consider: Abbedagge ($6,800)

ADC

Hans sama ($7,800)

The biggest gap between the two teams is in the ADC position, in my opinion. While Neon has been alright in play-offs so far, I strongly believe that LIMIT has propped him up majorly, while I still think LIMIT is better than Trymbi, I think Hans will be capable of matching Neon way better. Hans was a clear #2 in the regular season, and while I think MAD has finally found their footing, I still think Rogue are a powerful force, and they won’t fall to S04. I think FBI is good too, but I prefer Lost and finally think he’s coming into his own.

Alternatives to consider: Lost ($7,400)

Support

SwordArt ($5,400)

Finally, for support I’ll take TSM’s SwordArt: I think between Trymbi and LIMIT, one player is much better than the other, but has a relatively inferior team compared to their opponent. I’d prefer to dodge the match-up entirely, and select SwordArt into Huhi. SwordArt can properly abuse the weaker match-ups 100 Thieves has across the map, but if you are forced into Europe, I prefer team over player, so I choose Trymbi.

Alternatives to consider: Trymbi ($5,600)

Team

Team Solomid ($4,800)

100 Thieves has only beat Dignitas in play-offs, and has flunked otherwise. I’m uncertain on the forms of Rogue and S04, but I definitely think TSM will crush 100 Thieves while they’re playing Ry0ma. For a European match-up, I favor Rogue over S04.

Alternatives to consider: Rogue ($5,400)

Stacks

Odoamne & Larssen

I prefer the Rogue solo laners over their S04 counterparts: Broken Blade just isn’t consistent enough for me to prefer him over Odoamne, and Larssen has been one of the best performing mid laners, and one of my favorites across this split. I can’t bring myself to prefer them over Rogue’s players.

PowerofEvil & SwordArt

PowerofEvil and SwordArt over Ry0ma and Huhi seems easy for me. I don’t think Ry0ma will hold well against PowerofEvil, and SwordArt has been having good performances as of late. Huhi is a more lane focused player, and I don’t think he’ll be able to effect the map as well as SwordArt will. I think TSM have this one down.

Abbedagge & LIMIT

If you think S04 has what it takes to stomp down Rogue, these are the two you want to take. Even through S04’s mid season slump, these two were consistently the best players on their squad. LIMIT in particular is less contested by Trymbi.

Top Picks: PowerofEvil, Larssen, Hans sama

The two mid laners I favor: PoE and Larssen have looked like some of the better pieces on their team, and while Abbedagge may pose a threat, I’ll take the consistent greatness of Rogue behind Larssen. Hans versus Neon I favor because even though LIMIT is better than Trymbi, I think Hans individually is the better player relative to Neon, mechanically and fundamentally.

Top Value: Odoamne, Abbedagge, LIMIT

I don’t favor S04, but I can’t deny they’ve impressed me so far. Abbedagge and LIMIT are the two players that have proved their value on the squad, and the other 3 have been purely hit or miss. Odoamne, in my opinion, has been the best top laner this split, and I think Broken Blade won’t hold up well against him.