After dropping a game last week, Team Liquid are still atop the LCS with a record of 12-4. However, they aren’t sitting as pretty as before. TL will need to win out in Week 9 to solidify their position at the top, because Counter Logic Gaming and Cloud9 are on their tails.
Week 8 proved to be costly for Team Liquid, as they lost to Cloud9 for the second time this split. This measure of revenge comes after an 0-2 performance against TL during the spring. Not only did this set Team Liquid back, but it moved Cloud9 closer to the top.
On the other hand, TL managed to come away with a win over OpTic Gaming the previous day. Both matches were kept close by Team Liquid’s All-Star Top Laner, Eon-yeong ‘Impact‘ Jung. Impact has been one of the best in the business throughout 2019, but he’ll have one of his biggest tests yet in Week 9.
The race for 1st place is coming to a close this weekend, as CLG (11-5) and Cloud9 (10-6) are looking to dethrone Team Liquid. At 12-4, a 2-0 weekend will be needed for TL to withhold the top spot.
Image Courtesy of LoL Esports Flickr.
On Day 1, Team Liquid will battle a struggling Echo Fox team. The two teams last met during Week 2, where Echo Fox got the best of TL on what seemed to be an off day. However, Team Liquid have looked better than ever in recent weeks, making it an uphill climb for Fox this weekend. The key matchup in this game will be in the Top Lane, between Impact and Colin ‘Solo‘ Earnest. Both players have the knowledge and champion pool to dominate any game, but Impact’s experience will likely give him the edge.
In-store for Day 2 is an important rematch, between two of the newest rivals in the LCS. The eight week wait is finally over, as Team Liquid will face Team SoloMid. During their last matchup in Week 1, TL absolutely destroyed TSM in quick fashion. This was rather shocking, considering the two teams had just met in the Spring Finals. However, Team Liquid proved themselves back then and will be looking to do the same this weekend. TSM has been all over the place this summer – in regards to their frequent roster changes and play style shifts – and Team Liquid will likely take advantage of that. If there was only one word to describe Team Liquid, it would be ‘consistent’, unlike their Week 9 opponents.
Image Courtesy of LoL Esports Flickr.
Even though TL dropped a game last week, don’t expect them to dwell on it much. After each of their losses this split, Team Liquid have made sure to bounce back with a win. On top of this, they’ll be playing the lesser of their two opponents to kick off the weekend. With everything taken into account, TL have the edge on paper against Echo Fox. Whether it be lane matchups, experience or whatever else, they hold the advantage and likely won’t let it slip away.
However, a lot is on the line for TSM in Week 9. At 9-7, they’ll need at least one win this weekend to secure their spot in the Summer Playoffs. Their matchup against FlyQuest on Day 1 should go in their favor, but that doesn’t mean they’ll relax for Day 2. During the spring, they were able to hand Team Liquid two of their four losses, but the narrative hasn’t been the same this summer. If TSM can jump out to an early lead, they’ll have a much better chance of stopping this Team Liquid train. Otherwise, it’ll keep on rolling into the playoffs.
Featured Image Courtesy of LoL Esports Flickr.
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles!
Follow Brayden on Twitter: @staybrayzy and Check Out His Music: Brayzy
From Our Haus to Yours.
