DreXxiN
2016-10-22 08:05:45
Written by: Connor Smith
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As I sat in Madison Square Garden during the SK Telecom T1 vs ROX Tigers semifinals, I thought about the historical context of what was unfolding before me. The crowd was electric and every game was fast-paced, yet calculated. By Game 5, no one in the building had confidence in either team.
This series matched the urgency and intensity of the famous SKT vs CJ Entus match in 2015, and the in-person atmosphere only improved on this. All that said, I couldn’t help but feel I was being a prisoner of the moment.
For context: I'm the guy who thought the new Star Wars was an instant classic, the day of. I once thought the Hobbit trilogy wasn't a jumbled cash-grab, and a good friend of mine won't trust my video game recommendations because of the time I told him Madden 13 was, “Totally different this time around,” and, “A must-have,” because of minor changes in the physics engine.
All of those opinions changed with reasoned thought, time and reflection, but this biased incentive toward exaggeration is something I actively tried to stop, in recent years.
So when I witnessed what I thought to be one of the most fast-paced and engaging series in League of Legends history, all of which took place in Madison Square Garden with a crowd that chanted louder than any Rangers crowd I've ever experienced, the pessimist in me was cautious to call it how it was.
After discussing this with fellow media, some sleep and some careful deliberation, I’m ready come forth and say it: SKT vs ROX has its place in League of Legends history.
To understand why this series was so memorable, one must consider the fact that no other matchup at Worlds came close, in terms of precision.
Regions like North America and Russia earned several upset victories in the group stage, but these were often volatile and featured early-game snowballs. There’s nothing wrong with a team forcing an early advantage. But in terms of viewership, it leads to one-sided matchups that lack urgency from both teams.
In the deciding game five, ROX and SKT split three barons and an elder drake. At 20 minutes, when games are often decided, ROX led by 575 gold — virtually nothing.
The level of play was also a height for this worlds. Several teamfights relied on mechanical near-perfection, as 2v2 outplays defined game-clinching teamfights.
Few experts could predict the winner of SKT vs ROX with confidence. Christopher “Montecristo” Mykles made a strong case for the Tigers, while many respected analysts backed SKT.
Just when the Tigers clawed its way to a 2-1 lead, SKT bounced right back, riding the waves of a stand-out performance from Bae "Bang" Jun-sik’s Jhin.
The concept of momentum is so often used as a cop-out to describe a team’s play. This time, neither team ever had much of a mental edge. It was comparable to TAS-level simulations, given how evenly matched these teams were.
If you thought unique playstyles centered on inventive picks died with Albus Nox, Miss Fortune support proves Likkrit did not die in vain.
Even ROX’s coach told Slingshot Esports that ANX inspired them to, “amplify our strength” with “joker picks”.
When ROX loaded in with Miss Fortune support, half the press room collectively turned to William "scarra" Li to see if he had any knowledge of this pick. Scarra shrugged and expressed similar disbelief. No one, not even the veteran staff of SKT, understood the point of the pick, yet the Tigers coordinated around it with precision and flair.
Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok told the press he never played against Miss Fortune support in any game — neither scrim nor solo-queue.
Given the play of both teams, the notion that Miss Fortune support also played a major role in two ROX victories shows how powerful preparation and creativity can be. Surprise picks are always fun to watch, but seeing a top team pull one out in the most important series of its existence gives this pick it’s own flair.
The crowd roared when the Tigers botlane combined two ADC for a flawless dive. Toward the end of the game, when one teamfight would decide it all, SKT feared the Miss Fortune ult, for good reason.
SKT banned Miss Fortune in mere milliseconds during the fourth draft and won the final two games.
In a tense Game 5 disengage by SKT, Faker darted past projectiles with a sliver of health. One shock blast from Song "Smeb" Kyung-ho, who teleported on a flank, would decimate Faker’s health bar and help cement the Tigers top laner’s ultimate redemption arc.
The shock blast glided past Faker, as the demon king kited past Smeb’s last-ditch attack. Smeb aimed properly, but Faker countered it with a talented juke. For me, this moment defined this series. Smeb and the Tigers did so much right, but to overcome SKT, you need so much more.
Now, as it usually is, is Faker’s time. Regardless of the opponents, the teammates or the metagame, Faker and SKT’s staff here to reign. This series proved that SKT and Faker are more than a dynasty. They are a constant.
Images courtesy of Lol Esports Flickr