Game One
Invictus Gaming (“IG”) came out swinging in the first game of the series against G2 Esports (“G2”). IG commanded the game from very early on. All three of their lanes won and the pressure they exuded was incredible. IG helped Song “Rookie” Eui-jin get First Blood onto Luka “Perkz” Perković with a three-man gank. G2 found one kill from Petter “Hjarnan” Freyschuss in an early 3v3, but G2’s bottom lane couldn’t stand up to the IG duo.
This duo was the catalyst for much of the initial gold lead, as they took the First Tower bonus, Ocean Dragon, the Rift Herald and two additional towers. IG never allowed G2 to breathe, constantly invading their jungle and getting kills. By only 20 minutes IG had a 5k gold lead and looked invincible. A team fight in the top lane showed this, as IG dove two turrets to win a team fight three-for-one.
Shortly after Hjarnan was caught out and killed. IG pushed through the G2 base, taking the middle Inhibitor and both Nexus Towers. G2 managed to hold them off, just barely, but not for long. With a 12k gold lead now, IG regrouped and easily secured a free Baron buff. Now IG pushed for the win and G2 tried desperately to push them out. A team fight broke open in their base and they were Aced. IG finished off the first Nexus of the series at 29 minutes.
Game Two
IG brought the game to match point already with a second win over G2. Like the first game, the IG solo laners dominated their opponents. Crucially for G2, their bottom lane duo did well. Within the first few minutes action erupted all over the map. Rookie secured a First Blood narrowly onto Perkz, while Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski ganked for Wunder and gave him a kill onto TheShy. Down in the bottom lane, Kim “Wadid” Bae-in slayed Wang “Baolan” Liu-Yi in the isolated 2v2. Gao “Ning” Zhen-Ning, now in the top lane, found a kill onto Jankos. Later, Martin “Wunder” Hansen was killed twice, once solo and the other in a three man dive from IG, which led to the First Tower bonus.
IG continued to secured objectives, including the Rift Herald, Infernal Dragon and some towers. IG used the Herald mid and tried to take a second tower, but G2 defended and managed to get two kills. It wouldn’t prove enough though, as Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok killed Perkz in a 1v2, and Rookie finished off Wunder, who almost died to TheShy too. Like in game one, IG accumulated a 5k gold lead by 20 minutes, which would only grow.
After Wunder was killed again in the top lane, Jankos landed a beautiful Gragas combo to help his team get two needed kills. Unfortunately for them, IG collapsed and answered two kills of their own. IG grouped up in the bot lane, and brute forced the Inhibitor down. They continued pushing on, taking one Nexus Tower but not able to finish the other. They traded some kills and regrouped to take a free Baron. From here, IG slaughtered G2 members on their way to their base and destroyed the Nexus at 26 minutes.
Game Three
With a third win over G2, IG ensured their place in the Finals. Despite the win, IG did struggle in the early game. G2 managed to fix up their draft this game and find control up until the mid game. It all started with a Perkz-Jankos invade onto Ning, where Jankos secured First Blood. Because of this, they were in position to dive TheShy, killing him too. From here, skirmishes broke out constantly in the middle and top lanes. Most went the way of G2 by a kill or two, but IG did find some kills as well. G2 took the First Tower bonus this game, helping the G2 snowball.
However, IG found an early Infernal Dragon after a great play. They won a middle lane skirmish two-for-zero and got the middle Tier One Tower. When the next Dragon spawned, it was another Infernal, prized by both teams. IG secured it, and a team fight began. Though it started off rough for IG, a huge series of Darkin Blade strikes by TheShy gave his team a victory.
Wanting to pick up the pace, IG rushed the Baron in darkness. Though G2 found out, it was too late, and Jankos died trying to steal. With the Baron buffed Minions, IG smashed multiple towers, two Inhibitors and two Nexus Towers. However, they did have to find a couple more fights and more kills to challenge the Nexus. Finally, after obliterating more G2 members, IG destroyed the last G2 Nexus at 28 minutes.
To watch the 2018 World Championship, visit Riot Games’ Twitch channel. For more information on the tournament, teams, standings, and players, visit www.lolesports.com. Recaps of former games and other LoL content can be found at https://thegamehaus.com/league-of-legends/.
Featured image via LoL Esports Flickr.
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