With three weeks in the books, the LCS is taking a one-week break. In the meantime, here are three takeaways from the first three weeks of the summer split.
Sitting at 6-1, with their only loss to a surprising CLG team, Evil Geniuses have picked up right where they left off. Holding off the infamous MSI hangover, EG have been a well-oiled machine. They rank first in the LCS in most major categories including kills (116), early-game rating (62.4), gold difference at 15 (949), first tower rate (86%), and baron control rate (77%).
Former LEC MVP Inspired who has been carrying the team. The 20-year-old has been the engine that drives their team, either being the carry or getting his lanes ahead. Amongst LCS junglers, he’s first or tied for first in kills (33), assists (51), KDA (8.4), damage per minute (358), and neutral objectives stolen (2).
The scary thing is EG are continuing to grow and have yet to reach their peak.
Entering this split, EG, TL, 100T, and C9 were all seen to be on their own tier, with the rest of the league fighting for the bottom four playoff spots. Someone forgot to give FlyQuest and CLG that memo. Both are tied for fourth in the standings at 4-3, with each having beaten at least one of the top teams.
For FlyQuest, after blowing massive leads against Immortals and TL, they went 2-0 in week three, highlighted by their blowout win over c9. In fact, Fly are the only team to beat C9 with their entire starting five. After being named second-team All-Pro for mid-lane in his first split, Toucouille took his game to the next level, having only died five times in seven games. The most impressive stat is that he has yet to have a counter-pick.
CLG are the biggest surprise so far, being only two victories away from tying their win total from Spring (6). Since starting 3-0, they have begun to slow down, but are the only team to beat EG.
The gap between 100T, TL, C9 and the middle teams seems to be slowly closing for now.
After one of the worst splits in franchise history, TSM brought in Maple and Mia to take over at mid and support respectively. With an improved roster, TSM were seen by some as a dark horse to make some noise come playoffs. Unfortunately, they sit at 2-5 — having yet to find any consistency. After starting 1-2, they had an impressive win over TL. They led the entire game and never allowed their rivals to climb their way back.
Maple and Spica led the way, stifling Bjergesen and TL whenever they attempted to make a play. But they followed this up by losing their last three games. Capped off by a beatdown at the hands of 2-5 Dignitas. With plenty of talent on their team led by 2021 Summer MVP Spica, TSM has been playing way below their ceiling. From draft to their micro and macro, they have been unable to get out of their own way. But they proved against TL, that they can play with the best of the LCS.
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