Howspiffing
2015-02-09 05:39:48
1 - Origen
sOAZ, Amazing, xPeke, Niels, Mithy
Recent Results - (W) 2-1 vs Millenium Spirit, (W) 2-0 vs 5 Sins.
Despite having issues in their qualifier against Millenium Spirit, Origen still sit comfortably atop my power rankings for the Challenger Series in Europe. The lineup of 4 World Championship attendees and a highly rated young AD Carry would have to drop quite a few games before I considered them as anything other than the number 1 team in the challenger series.
The only question mark regarding the team so far is the performance of largely untested AD Carry, Niels. The young Dane did not show anything special against M Spirit and alongside Mithy they will be up against some very experienced or very talented bottom lane duos. The team will kick off their Challenger campaign with matches against Team Nevo, the team coming in 2nd on my pre-season power rankings.
2 - Nevo
SmittyJ, Gillius, Eika, Jebus, Hiiva
Recent Results - (W) 2-1 vs Gamers 2, (W) 2-0 vs Team Refuse.
Handed undoubtedly the hardest qualification bracket, Team Nevo were forced to fight for their Challenger lives against Gamers 2. The series went down to the 3rd and final game with Nevo coming out on top. Eika in the mid lane especially impressed, it’s clear to see how dominating he was in games 1 and 3, while maintaining at the very least a respectable KDA in the game 2 loss.
Fitting out the team is former SK Prime top laner SmittyJ, ex Unicorns of Love and SK Gaming sub jungler Gillius, Gambit Gamings rumoured first choice as the replacement for Genja, Jebus, and former SK Prime support Hiiva. While the entire lineup contains a lot of strength, I’ll be keeping my eyes on Jebus and Hiiva, 2 very mechanically strong players who could do big things if they mesh well together.
3 - SK Prime
Wunderwear, Brokenshard, Sencux, Crazycaps, Zytan
Recent results - (W) 2-1 vs Sparta, (W) 2-0 vs Annihilon Team.
The fact that this team made it through the qualifiers is a testament to their willpower and drive. The lineup lost 2 key members merely 1 week before the qualifier as long time top laner Beansu and reported new jungler Obvious instead went on to join the reformed Gamers 2. Their last minute replacements joined up and helped the team through their qualifier against Sparta, and despite a challenge from the French side, SKP were able to take it 2 games to 1.
SK prime is made up of quite an interesting mix, with some solo queue talent thrown in with some veterans of the challenger scene, topped off with a dose of LCS experience in jungler brokenshard. Wunderwear has yet to see competitive play outside of the qualifiers against Sparta, while both Sencux and Crazycaps have limited experience on previous teams. Zytan took part in the LCS promotion tournament attempt under the previous SK Prime when they took on Gambit unsuccessfully. SK Prime will be facing LowLandLions during week 1, I’m expecting an SK Prime victory.
4 - Reason Gaming
Kubon, Xayoo, TakeFun, Celaver, Libik
Recent Results - (L) 0-3 vs Giants, (W) 3-0 vs n!Faculty, (L) 0-3 vs Giants.
Alongside n!Faculty, Reason Gaming secured their berth in the 2015 Challenger Series with a run in the expansion tournament. Quite like their counterparts they also failed to succeed, landing them here. The difference between the 2 is that Reason managed to keep hold of their lineup as they head into the season. The lineup is likely the 2nd most experienced in the league, with 3 out of 5 players having been in the LCS, and TakeFun having a long stint on Lublin Shore/Reason Gaming as a replacement for Czaru.
Reason Gaming is a tough team to analyze, because every time you count them out they seem to come back with a performance that suggests they might just be about to challenge for the top spots in challenger. Individually their carries seem to be fairly strong, with Kubon, TakeFun and Celaver all putting up decent performances when compared with other challengers. Libik and Xayoo both still have something to prove while the others need to be more consistent if Reason are to be a threat this season. They will start their campaign against n!Faculty in week 1.
5 - n!Faculty
Xaxus, (Unknown), Soz Purefect, Sedrion, Mountain
Recent Results - (L) 0-3 vs Reason Gaming, (L) 0-3 vs H2K.
nFaculty reserved their spot in the Challenger Series with a great run in the online portion of the LCS Expansion tournament. Unfortunately for them they were unable to claim promotion to the LCS and then lost one of their key members, their jungler, Obvious. So far a replacement has not been confirmed. Listed on the Lolesports website is a jungler names ‘Trowen’ who is a high elo solo queue player, though sources also tell me they are trying out other players too. Until they resolve the issue of their missing man, I cannot place the team any higher than this. I expect when they do find the right jungler for them, they might just make a push up the table.
Xaxus now seems to be the strongest link of the team. The former ROCCAT top laner is still considered an LCS level player and quite frankly the best player on his team if we’re to judge in last seasons performances. Sedrion and Mountain have been a partnership since the team began, and despite not being considered top tier mechanical players, their synergy means they punch above their weight. The final piece of the lineup...uh…except the jungler...is Soz Purefect. The player showed some strength at the expansion tournament but still has some way to go before being considered one of the best mid laners in challenger. n!Fac start their season against fellow expansion tournament participants Reason Gaming.
6 - LowLandLions White
Morsu, Kirei, CozQ, Vizility, Hybrid
Recent Results - (W) 2-0 vs Different Dimension, (W) 2-0 vs Tricked Esport.
Easily the least known lineup that qualified, LowLandLions (LLL) will struggle to make an impression during the Challenger Series in my opinion. A favourable bracket meant LLL faced off against EUNE team ‘Different Dimension’, taking the series 2-0. The lineup of LLL revolves largely around players who’ve spent the vast majority of their career circling around the edges of the challenger scene, with none achieving much success.
While it will be tough for LLL White to make an impact this season it’s not out of the realm of possibility. While the team doesn’t boast a standout player, they’re all mechanically up to par and will be looking to brute force their way to victory. Don’t expect some highly tactical rotations from these guys, but also dont underestimate what a team of high elo solo queue players can achieve if they are able to win 2 or more lanes.
Howspiffing
2015-02-09 05:27:24
1 - Origen
sOAZ, Amazing, xPeke, Niels, Mithy
Recent results - (W) 2-1 vs Millenium Spirit, (W) 2-0 vs 5 Sins.
Despite having issues in their qualifier against Millenium Spirit, Origen still sit comfortably atop my power rankings for the Challenger Series in Europe. The lineup of 4 World Championship attendees and a highly rated young AD Carry would have to drop quite a few games before I considered them as anything other than the number 1 team in the challenger series.
The only question mark regarding the team so far is the performance of largely untested AD Carry, Niels. The young Dane did not show anything special against M Spirit and alongside Mithy they will be up against some very experienced or very talented bottom lane duos. The team will kick off their Challenger campaign with matches against Team Nevo, the team coming in 2nd on my pre-season power rankings.
2 - Nevo
SmittyJ, Gillius, Eika, Jebus, Hiiva
Recent Results - (W) 2-1 vs Gamers 2, (W) 2-0 vs Ragnarok.
Handed undoubtedly the hardest qualification bracket, Team Nevo were forced to fight for their Challenger lives against Gamers 2. The series went down to the 3rd and final game with Nevo coming out on top. Eika in the mid lane especially impressed, it’s clear to see how dominating he was in games 1 and 3, while maintaining at the very least a respectable KDA in the game 2 loss.
Fitting out the team is former SK Prime top laner SmittyJ, ex Unicorns of Love and SK Gaming sub jungler Gillius, Gambit Gamings rumoured first choice as the replacement for Genja, Jebus, and former SK Prime support Hiiva. While the entire lineup contains a lot of strength, I’ll be keeping my eyes on Jebus and Hiiva, 2 very mechanically strong players who could do big things if they mesh well together.
3 - SK Prime
Wunderwear, Brokenshard, Sencux, Crazycaps, Zytan
Recent results - (W) 2-0 vs Sparta, (W) 2-0 vs Annihilon Team.
The fact that this team made it through the qualifiers is a testament to their willpower and drive. The lineup lost 2 key members merely 1 week before the qualifier as long time top laner Beansu and reported new jungler Obvious instead went on to join the reformed Gamers 2. Their last minute replacements joined up and helped the team through their qualifier against Sparta, and despite a challenge from the French side, SKP were able to take it 2 games to 1.
SK prime is made up of quite an interesting mix, with some solo queue talent thrown in with some veterans of the challenger scene, topped off with a dose of LCS experience in jungler brokenshard. Wunderwear has yet to see competitive play outside of the qualifiers against Sparta, while both Sencux and Crazycaps have limited experience on previous teams. Zytan took part in the LCS promotion tournament attempt under the previous SK Prime when they took on Gambit unsuccessfully. SK Prime will be facing LowLandLions during week 1, I’m expecting an SK Prime victory.
4 - Reason Gaming
Kubon, Xayoo, TakeFun, Celaver, Libik
Recent Results - (L) 0-3 vs Giants, (W) 3-0 vs nFaculty, (L) 0-3 vs Giants.
Alongside n!Faculty, Reason Gaming secured their berth in the 2015 Challenger Series with a run in the expansion tournament. Quite like their counterparts they also failed to succeed, landing them here. The difference between the 2 is that Reason managed to keep hold of their lineup as they head into the season. The lineup is likely the 2nd most experienced in the league, with 3 out of 5 players having been in the LCS, with TakeFun having a long stint on Lublin Shore/Reason Gaming as a replacement for Czaru.
Reason Gaming is a tough team to analyze, because every time you count them out they seem to come back with a performance that suggests they might just be about to challenge for the top spots in challenger. Individually their carries seem to be fairly strong, with Kubon, TakeFun and Celaver all putting up decent performances when compared with other challengers. Libik and Xayoo both still have something to prove while the others need to be more consistent if Reason are to be a threat this season. They will start their campaign against n!Faculty in week 1.
5 - n!Faculty
Xaxus, (Unknown), Soz Purefect, Sedrion, Mountain
Recent Results - (L) 0-3 vs Reason Gaming, (L) 0-3 vs H2K.
nFaculty reserved their spot in the Challenger Series with a great run in the LCS Expansion tournament. Unfortunately for them they were unable to claim promotion to the LCS and then lost one of their key members, their jungler, Obvious. So far a replacement has not been confirmed. Listed on the Lolesports website is a jungler names ‘Trowen’ who is a high elo solo queue player, though sources also tell me they are trying out other players too. Until the missing position is resolved I find it difficult to place the team any higher than this, though with the right player on board I feel they may be able to make a decent run.
Xaxus now seems to be the strongest link of the team. The former ROCCAT top laner is still considered an LCS level player and quite frankly the best player on his team if we’re to judge in last seasons performances. Sedrion and Mountain have been a partnership since the team began, and despite not being considered top tier mechanical players, their synergy means they punch above their weight. The final piece of the lineup...except the jungler...is Soz Purefect. The player showed some strength at the expansion tournament but still has some way to go before being considered one of the best mid laners in challenger. n!Fac start their season against fellow expansion tournament participants Reason Gaming.
6 - LowLandLions White
Morsu, Kirei, CozQ, Vizility, Hybrid
Recent Results - (W) 2-0 vs Different Dimension, (W) 2-0 vs Tricked Esport
Easily the least known lineup that qualified, LowLandLions (LLL) will struggle to make an impression during the Challenger Series in my opinion. A favourable bracket meant LLL faced off against EUNE team ‘Different Dimension’, taking the series 2-0. The lineup of LLL revolves largely around players who’ve spent the vast majority of their career circling around the edges of the challenger scene, with none achieving much success.
While it will be tough for LLL White to make an impact this season it’s not out of the realm of possibility. While the team doesn’t boast a standout player, they’re all mechanically up to par and will be looking to brute force their way to victory. Don’t expect some highly tactical rotations from these guys, but also dont underestimate what a team of high elo solo queue players can achieve if they are able to win 2 or more lanes.