While maybe not the way we might have anticipated it to go down, the results still come down to what most of us have predicted: the top Korean and Chinese team battling it out in the grand finals. While AHQ didn't put up the biggest fight, Fnatic vs. SKT was one of the best BO5 series' we've seen in competitive League.

SKT vs. FNC Game 1

Look at his horse, his horse is amazing.  

The game started out with a surprisingly unfavorable duel in Huni's Hecarim vs. MaRin's Maokai, forcing him to flash before even igniting. Things weren't so great on the opposite side of the map, however.  Yellowstar got caught out and decided to put the teams back on even grounds, including putting Steelback a summoner heal behind in an attempt to save him.

Fnatic did a good job at applying map pressure, but showed why they struggle against poke.  Faker's global presence on his mid Ezreal was surreal, and he was able to secure kills and contribute from a far away point on the map multiple times.  This combined with utilizing double ADC to take down mid very early and following up with the rest of the outer turret ring and transitioning into pushing their power spike advantage afterwards secured an easy first game. 

SKT vs. FNC Game 2

Standing toe to toe with God

Steelback has been struggling a bit this tournament, so Fnatic were right in prioritizing getting him ahead early on.  After securing a first blood with the combined assistance of Yellowstar's Annie and Reignover's Gragas, Bang's Sivir was put pretty significantly behind, which was then amplified by his choice to rush avarice blade as his first purchase.  This significantly decreased the early game damage output from SKT, unfortunately, against an extremely powerful mid-game composition from Fnatic.

Huni's early teleport plays and laning were paramount to Fnatic's victory against the Korean overlords.  Unfortunately for SKT, Faker was definitely having an off game, frequently being caught out of position and even killing himself carelessly on tower when diving an already rich Huni.  This isn't to take away from Fnatic though, especially the clear MVP in perhaps the best western support performance of the year.  Led by Yellowstar's sick Annie engages, Fnatic tied the series with the SKT.

SKT vs. FNC Game 3

Here's a free lesson, TSM

Fnatic were well aware how vulnerable Cassiopeia is as an immobile champion in the top lane and planned accordingly.  What could have been a snowball from Fnatic was denied by stellar timing by Yellowstar, coming to aid his top laner at the perfect time to prevent a dive to keep Huni alive.  While this was strategically sound from Fnatic, perhaps the highlights of the game were Febiven's two fearless solo kills on Faker, making him the second mid laner present at the tournament with that privilege.

While he had an impressive lead, Fnatic as a team were not able to properly utilize the powerspikes and had poor side lane management.  Huni wasn't able to hit some key ultimates (or any for that matter) and SKT having an adequate amount of disengage to deal with Zed in lategame teamfights meant that Fnatic were on a timer that they couldn't handle.  Faker got his revenge for his less than stellar prior performances and ended the game with a strong performance with SKT.

SKT vs. FNC Game 4

Europe, lend me your energy!

Fnatic were clever once again in getting their bottom lane ahead.  Reignover helped gank bottom to get Steelback ahead and Yellowstar took exclusive experience from the starting jungle gamp. This allowed his Leona to open with his combo early to get early harass off, which helped solidify the starting gank. This ensured that the skill gap was closed by an advantage between Bang and Steelback. 

Fnatic did have some slight strategic flops like being a bit overzealous in diving top with three players which allowed SKT to secure dragon, but it still wasn't an awful trade.  Had Marin not hit level 6, it would have worked a lot better.  Reignover was MVP in this game, providing early pressure all across the map and bringing back the warrior enchant again for the early damage to secure a lead.  SKT may have secured the early dragons, but Fnatic were stomping in teamfights. Fnatic held over a 12k gold lead for the majority of the game and brought the set to 5 games.   

SKT vs. FNC Game 5

Make history or die trying

Well, it's finally happened guys. The west has brought Korea to a game 5. Led by Faker's Cassiopeia and Bengi's excellent Nunu, SKT were set to get revenge and deny the chances of the west to take the glory of this victory.  Bengi proved why he may perhaps be the most aggravating Nunu to play against on the planet, starting things off with a first blood dive onto Reignover. 

Fnatic may have won some early skirmishes, but Faker was denying tons of gold from Febiven as a result and setting him far behind.  Meanwhile, SKT collectively wouldn't allow Fnatic to get the majority of their buffs, gimping them later into the game. While Fnatic put forth valiant effort, Faker had vengeance in his heart, outpouring loads of DPS with his huge frontline and melting away Fnatic's champions and hopes of a grand final appearance.

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EDG vs. AHQ Game 1

More upset potential? Let's find out.

Champion select begins, bans go out, and Clearlove chooses to jungle with....Nautilus.  This is something he's never played in LPL but may have been practicing in scrims.  Never question Clearlove.  The team forced early invades and were able to control AHQ's jungle while also proxying the top lane.  Deft got ahead early, which quickly made him a focus in the eyes of AHQ -- not too difficult of a task when Twisted Fate is your mid laner.

EDG buckled up and adapted.  Deft and PawN switched jobs in the team with Deft playing a distraction and grabbing an early QSS to fight the chain CC while PawN output insane amounts of damage and played the role of primary damage threat.  In typical EDG fashion, they tunneled heavily on baron, grabbing it successfully most of the time and sacrificing themselves to it once for good luck in the series.  Eventually, PawN became a swole, unstoppable healing snake of death and wrecked AHQ's faces, taking game 1.

EDG vs. AHQ Game 2

Wrong year, Westdoor

Westdoor was able to lock in his signature champion in Fizz and it pretty much went as expected.  AHQ fulfilled their niche and were able to take a really early dragon and play off that, but after Mountain's collapse, the rest of the team's composure fell along with it.  While EDG's teamfighting wasn't perfect either, their carries arrived late in a slightly convenient manner to clean up.  Once again PawN was absolutely huge.

AHQ -did- manage to find success in many of the early fights, but the whole time they were behind in map control and towers.  EDG had a better grasp on macro strategy and were able to take a relatively painless Game 2.

EDG vs. AHQ Game 3

The slaughter doesn't stop

Ok, well, this was rather anticlimatic.  It's never a good start for you when you're against Deft that gets a free first blood. EDG were able to establish that and full early jungle and map control. This game was Koro's turns to carry on Irelia.  Koro showed his true potential. While typically known for his team fighting prowess, Koro has shown his flexibility in being a one-man wrecking crew, in most of the series, but in the final game most of all.  

For more content, feel free to follow the author at @ESHDrexxin. All images courtesy of Lolesports and Twitch.