(-400) Team Liquid v Golden Guardians (+275)

(+155) Flyquest v Immortals (-195)

(-175) 100 Thieves v Team Solomid +135)

(+140) Evil Geniuses v Cloud9 (-180)

(-125) Team Dignitas v Counter Logic Gaming (-105)

There are ten games between now and the end of the Summer Split. Only 10 games for teams to make a push into the Summer Playoffs and make a bid at the World Championship in China this fall. While it feels like teams have so much time left, in reality there is almost no time left for teams to separate from the pack. No team is mathematically eliminated which means every team is fighting for wins and to get into the right form to win the LCS this year. Over the games on Friday and Saturday teams who have been our staple power teams like 100 Thieves look like their flailing while Evil Geniuses are surging in the standings. So how will Sunday shake out? How will Summer 2021 shake out? Let’s dive in!  

Game #1: Team Liquid v Golden Guardians

Cann’s Pick: Team Liquid

Game #2: Flyquest v Immortals

Cann’s Pick: Immortals

Game #3: 100 Thieves v Team Solomid

Cann’s Pick: 100 Thieves

Game #4: Evil Geniuses v Cloud9

Cann’s Pick:  Evil Geniuses

Game #5: Team Dignitas v Counter Logic Gaming

Cann’s Pick:Counter Logic Gaming

 

Captain

Favorite: Tactical (TL: $12,000) Tactical continues to impress. On Saturday he played his marquee pick in Kalista and reminded everyone why he is the top of the LCS for the ADC role. Ha has 20 kill participation through two games and into the Golden Guardians, he has the opportunity to stack a lot more kill participation on top of that. Golden Guardians have 12 deaths in their botlane this weekend and I would argue there is a massive skill difference between Stixxay/Chime and Tactical/CoreJJ.

Value Pick: Insanity (IMT: $11,100)

Top Lane

Favorite: Fudge (C9: $6,800) Fudge is the best player on Cloud9 game in and game out. By the end of the split, he may not be but for today I believe he is. This is a huge credit to a guy who was seen as the reason Cloud9 didn win the Lock-In Tournament and I think it goes to show that there is a lot of talent in the region. This weekend alone he has 17 kills, 15 assists, and 6 deaths. He is playing some of the more exciting top lane picks and I am here for it. 

Value Pick: Finn (CLG: $6,000) 

Jungle

Favorite: Xerxe (IMT: $7,000) Xerxe is a man on a mission. He has some of the highest numbers in terms of kills (46), assists (111), and team kill participation (74%) among junglers in the LCS. Immortals have taken a step forward in the Summer and before this weekend had a 50%+ win percentage and a lot of that is the work being put in by Xerxe. Immortals is playing the super hot Flyquest who are 2-0 on the weekend but I think there is something to be said about the quality of this Immortals team and how there is enough data on this new lineup to start game planning and limit their early game aggression.

Value Pick: Spica (TSM: $5,600) 

Mid Lane

Favorite: Abbedagge (100: $7,200) I think I can fairly easily write off the poor performances from 100 Thieves this weekend and continue to have high expectations from the European import. Right now, 100 Thieves are trying new picks and strategies to ensure a wider playstyle when it comes to playoffs. This will make them harder to gameplan for and allow the players like Abbedagge to flex their muscles. 100 Thieves’ lead has begun to dwindle as they have lost two straight games and they will begin to move to more comfortable picks and get back into the win column. 

Value Pick: Jizuke (EG: $6,800)   

ADC

Favorite: Zven (C9: $7,400) Zven is such a solid ADC in the LCS. He has the second highest KDA among ADCs with over 5 games played with 5.9 and is averaging just over 1 death a game. On Saturday he continued his hot streak with a 9 kill and 6 assist deathless performance which only makes this price even more enticing. Even if Cloud9 fall on their face again this weekend, Zven has proven that he will still perform and put up good numbers. 

Value Pick: Raes (IMT: $7,200) 

Support

Favorite: CoreJJ (TL: $6,200) Through Saturday CoreJJ was third among LCS supports in terms of assists (147) and a 5.2 KDA. CoreJJ and Tactical have been dominant in the bot lane in the last few weeks and it is translating into big points. He is a high skilled engage player which means he has a tendency to be at the center of Team Liquid’s team fights meaning more points for your lineup. 

Value Pick: huhi (100: $5,400) 

Team

Favorite: Team Liquid ($5,800) Team Liquid has the chance to close out the weekend going 3-0 which would be the first time for this entire split. They will have their hands full with the resurgent Flyquest with their entirely new lineup who is also looking for their own 3-0. The biggest difference between these teams (and what gives me the nod to Team Liquid) is how they win. Flyquest has to fight to find advantages. Team Liquid finds fights after making advantages through early game plays and decisions.    

Value Pick: Evil Geniuses (EG: $4,200) 


Cann’s Example Lineup

Captain (x1.5): Tactical ($12,000)

Alternate: Raes ($10,800)

Top: Finn ($6,000)

Jungle: Xerxe ($7,000)

Alternate: Closer ($6,800)
Mid: Abbedagge ($7,200)

ADC: Zven ($7,400)

Alternate: WildTurtle ($7,000)

Support: Vulcan ($5,600)

Team: Counter Logic Gaming ($4,600)