As the LCK winds down there was more upsets and more great matches this week as top teams keep moving around in the power rankings. Who ended up where this week? Let’s find out now with this week’s LCK power rankings! As always if you missed last week’s power rankings, you can find them here!
10. Jin Air Green Wings (-)
Current record: 0-15
1-2 vs Gen.G
With their loss to Gen.G, Jin Air has officially locked in a spot in relegations. Waiting for them are some solid challenger teams such as APK Prince and Team Dynamics who are all looking for a chance to join the LCK. AS a result, the following weeks could be the last time fans see Jin Air in the LCK for a long time. With no chance at moving out of last place as well, the likely end of Jin Air will be a sad one as they will likely end the season 0-18.
9. Hanwha Life Esports (-)
Current record: 4-11
0-2 vs KT Rolster
2-0 vs DAMWON Gaming
While Hanwha was able to finally bring it together for one series in their 2-0 victory over DAMWON. With players like jungler Kim “bonO” Gi-beom stepping up big time, their victory against DAMWON was much needed. However, it wasn’t enough as a 0-2 loss to KT just before it keeps them in relegation territory at the moment. With KT having the easier schedule, Hanwha will need to prove their win over DAMWON wasn’t a one-time thing in order to avoid relegation.
8. KT Rolster (-)
Current record: 4-10
2-0 vs Hanwha Life Esports
With a 2-0 victory over Hanwha, KT has put themselves in a great spot to avoid relegation. While the season has not gone their way at all, at least the team can head into the long off-season with their spot in the LCK intact. With a showdown against Jin Air remaining on KT’s schedule, the team should be able to solidify their safety fairly soon. No matter what, the future looks brighter as top laner Hwang “Kingen” Seong-hoon continues to look solid.
7. Kingzone DragonX (-3)
Current record: 8-7
0-2 vs SK Telecom T1
0-2 vs SANDBOX Gaming
With rumors surrounding Kingzone’s dip in performance, the team continues to look worse and worse. With two huge losses to other top teams, Kingzone’s chances at Worlds continues to drop. As Kingzone are currently sitting outside a playoff spot and the worst record among teams still in contention, the team will need to win the rest of their games if they even want a chance at the playoffs. With veterans like ADC Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu leading the way, the team should have a solid chance at doing so, especially when two of their final three matches are against Jin Air and KT.
6. Gen.G (-)
Current record: 10-5
2-1 vs Jin Air Green Wings
While Gen.G moves into a four-way fight for first in the standings, they remain at 6th in the power rankings this week. While they came out of the week with a victory over Jin Air, the team looked shaky at times. With three tough matches remaining against Griffin, Afreeca Freecs and finally DAMWON Gaming, Gen.G’s spot in the playoffs is still at risk. For the team to make it into the playoffs, they would need to win at least one of their remaining matches. Otherwise, their Worlds dreams could fade away and end their season.
5. Griffin (+2)
Current record: 9-5
2-1 vs SANDBOX Gaming
After a few rough weeks, Griffin was finally able to find their winning ways with a victory over SANDBOX. While the team still looks rough at times it does appear that Griffin has managed to stop the bleeding for the time being. With rookie top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon looking better and better, the team is finally looking like a contender once again. While Griffin hasn’t quite locked in their spot at Worlds yet, they should have an easy time doing so thanks to their results in the Spring Split. Will they find themselves at Worlds this year? Only time will tell.
4. SANDBOX Gaming (+1)
Current record: 10-5
1-2 vs Griffin
2-0 vs Kingzone DragonX
Thanks to a 1-1 week for SANDBOX, they were able to move one spot up in the power rankings. While SANDBOX would drop their match against Griffin, their convincing victory over Kingzone would bring the team back into a fight for the top spot going into the playoffs. While the team still has troubles at times, SANDBOX is beginning to look better just in time for the playoffs. After a tough end to their Spring Split, will SANDBOX be able to do even better this time around?
3. Afreeca Freecs (-)
Current record: 9-6
2-0 vs DAMWON Gaming
0-2 vs SK Telecom T1
With a 1-1 week, Afreeca is able to stay at 3rd in the power rankings. This week the team showed that they’re able to beat any team on any day as they were able to take down DAMWON in a convincing fashion. However, their luck would fall short as they would go on to lose to SKT afterward. While Afreeca is a fairly coin-flip-style team, they could be a huge threat if they make it into the playoffs as a result. Although they sit just outside a playoff spot at the moment, Afreeca’s final three matches are all fairly winnable and should prove to be a great chance for Afreeca to show that they’re able to be consistent in their performance.
2. DAMWON Gaming (-1)
Current record: 10-5
0-2 vs Afreeca Freecs
0-2 Hanwha Life Esports
After a very disappointing week for DAMWON, they finally drop out of the top spot in the standings after holding it for four straight weeks. With a poor performance from top laner Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon this week, the team was unable to make anything work against both Afreeca and Hanwha. While DAMWON has lost their hold of the top spot in the standings, they could easily win it back in the following weeks as a showdown against SK Telecom T1 awaits them in the final week. Until then, DAMWON needs to use their match against KT to fix their issues and look good for the long road ahead.
1. SK Telecom T1 (+1)
Current record: 10-5
2-0 vs Kingzone DragonX
2-0 vs Afreeca Freecs
It has been a long time coming, but after dropping as low as 9th in the power rankings and actual standings, SKT has finally returned to the top spot in both. While SKT has finally taken back their throne, their job isn’t done yet. With matches against DAMWON and SANDBOX still remaining in the final week, SKT will need to maintain their current level of play. After a rocky split, SKT is finally back on top just as they reach the home stretch. Will they be able to keep the top spot? Or will one of the young teams take it away?
To watch League of Legends tournaments, visit watch.na.lolesports.com. For more information on the Split, teams, standings, and players, visit www.lolesports.com. Recaps of former weeks and other LoL content can be found at https://thegamehaus.com/league-of-legends/.
Featured image courtesy of LCK flickr.
Follow us
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles
Follow Rui on Twitter @ruixu38