This slate is a combination of the second semifinal from the KeSPA Cup (LCK) and the finals of the Demacia Cup. The semifinal between NS and KT should be a closer and entertaining match if you are interested in watching the matches but there are definitely some key players to take away from the match. In the finals of the Demacia Cup, TES has to be the favorites over Team WE. Let’s take a quick look at possible line ups and get you ready for an exciting day of League of Legends. 

Lineup Breakdown

Cann’s Possible Lineup for 12/27

(DK Classic: $50,000 Cap)

Captain: Knight ($11,400)

     Alternate: deokdam ($11,100)

Top: Rich ($6,400)

Jungler: Karsa ($7,000)

     Alternate: Peanut ($6,400)

Mid: Bay ($7,200)

     Alternate: Knight ($7,600)

ADC: JackeyLove ($7,800)

     Alternate: deokdam ($7,600)

Support: Kellin ($5,200)

Team: Nongshim RedForce ($5,000)

     Alternate: KT Rolster ($4,800)

Top: The pool to pull from in the top lane feels very hit or miss so it felt like the safest to go with 369 ($6,600). He currently has a 5.6 KDA in the Demacia cup with Top Esports and he has been cruising through the tournament. His opponent, Breathe ($5,800), has had what looks to be solid tournament, but they have faced LGD and JDG so they haven’t played as tough opponents. I think KT could have an edge over Nongshim, but the fact that they have pretty consistently split time between Castle ($6,000) and Doran ($5,800) makes it harder to pick either of them. 

Top Pick: 369 ($6,600)

Value Pick: Rich ($6,400)

Jungler: There have been some impressive performances from the jungle role thus far. I think the pair of KT junglers are great with GIDEON ($6,200) and Bonnie ($6,000) both putting on solid showings in their two matches a piece. What makes me hesitate in putting a lot of weight into them, outside of the fact that you are 100% sure which you’ll see, but they are facing Peanut ($6,600). I think the safer bet would definitely be Karsa ($7,000) but that does come with a pretty high price tag. WE’s jungler, beishang ($6,400) has had impressive numbers but against sub par teams. 

Top Pick: Karsa ($7,000)

Value Pick: GIDEON ($6,200)

Mid: I would feel pretty comfortable picking up most of the mid laners on this slate. The powerhouse would obviously be the TES mid Knight ($7,600). He has a 6.4 KDA and has played against Doinb (FPX) and Fofo (VG) to get to the championships and that should mean something. Bay ($7,200) is rated pretty high by DK, and he has had a solid 60% kill participation through 5 games and has really focused on following up Peanut. I again don’t like the split time between Vicia ($6,800) and Ucal ($6,600) on KT Rolster, but if you were going to pick one I like Ucal to get the nod because of his pedigree and his whopping 23 KDA thus far in the tournament. Avoid the WE mid laners because there is no use in risking a guy to be on the bench if they are only going to play into Knight. Save your money elsewhere. 

Top Pick: Knight ($7,600)

Value Pick: Bay ($7,200)

ADC: There are a wide range of options here. I think this is a pretty good place to save some money by picking up someone like deokdam ($7,400). He has 23 kills and 23 assists thus far and is a focus of the success of NS. The strenght of KT rolster is their botlane, but the laning phase tends to be more passive giving an opening for NS to make plays in that lane. Avoiding Jiumeng ($7,000) may be a smart play since he is playing into one of the best ADCs in the world in JackeyLove ($7,800). Not to take away from the WE ADCs impressive 70 kills, he also comes in with almost 30 deaths as well. 

Top Pick: JackeyLove ($7,800)

Value Pick: deokdam ($7,400)

Support: This could be a place where you can save some money. For example, taking Missing ($5,000) from WE wouldn’t be a terrible call because of how he is a catalyst in their team fighting with a kill participation of almost 72% of his team’s kills. Top Esports does technically have two supports but they will most likely just continue to run Zhuo ($5,600) which is a lot for a guy who is only at a 53% kill participation through 6 games. Kellin ($5,200) is a nice pickup to pair along with deokdam at a reasonable price. I think a sleeper pick here would be Rebel ($4,800) or Zzus ($4,600) with their solid performances but I would give the nod to Rebel just for his ability to keep both himself and his teammates alive, which is commonly a stat not always seen on the stat sheet. Not sold on these picks because of the subbing issues, but at such a low price, it allows you to make other more impactful picks elsewhere.

Top Pick: Zhuo ($5,600)

Value Pick: Missing ($5,000)

Team: Their is a hierarchy that is pretty clear. It goes: Top Esports ($5,400), KT Rolster ($4,800), Nongshim Red Force ($5,000), and finally Team WE ($4,200).

Top Pick: Top Esports ($5,400)

Value Pick: KT Rolster ($4,800)

Top Stacks

deokdam and Kellin ($12,600): I think this bot lane should do fine into KT Rolster and Peanut will create a lot of pressure elsewhere which should keep them relatively safe in the bot lane as long as they do not overextend. Also, VERY affordable. 

Bay and Peanut ($13,800): Where Peanut goes, Bay will follow. I think you can double dip on points with kills and assists following in quick succession between these two. The mid lane from KT is formidable but Peanut has a serious edge.

Anyone from Top Esports: This match should get out of hand. So pick up as many of TES players and adjust areas where you can.