After an explosive Group A day, it was followed by the more formulaic Group B. With Group C taking to the Rift today, it promises to be another hotly contested series of matches.
Group C was one of the pre-groups most hotly contested. With any of the four teams likely to qualify it was sure to be tight. In the first series of matches, TSM got off to a disastrous start losing all three of their first series matches. Meanwhile, Gen.G went 2-0 in their early games. However, a shock defeat to Fnatic saw the remaining three sides go 2-1 and set up a spicy second round-robin.
Fnatic v TSM
For Western fans, this was the match of the day. Heck, it was the match of the tournament thus far for some. EU v NA is always a hotly contested match, though with TSM’s Worlds life on the line in game one, and Fnatic (“FNC”) looked to go 2-0 over NA, it was all to play for in the first game of the day.
While the First Blood doesn’t drop, a fight went down in the bot lane which saw both junglers and mid lane enter the fight. TSM made the engagement but with Selfmade joining the fight Bjergsen had to escape, costing him a flash but saving his life. FNC was able to pick up two drakes and a 1k lead by the 11th minute. FNC finally picked up the First Blood catching out Biofrost as he leaves the river. But TSM is able to pick up a kill in return onto Bwipo, they also get yet another as FNC tries to punish.
Selfmade man
A 5v5 breaks out over the third drake, with TSM going for the drake FNC move to take out Broken Blade instead, with him dead TSM looked to secure the kill but Selfmade is able to steal it as they go 3k ahead and claim the soul point. On the back end of the fight, TSM dropped the Rift Herald mid lane. However, FNC dove them in the top lane, picking up two more kills. TSM pulled the trigger on the mid lane fight with the soul drake spawning in just a minute. FNC dominate the fight and take down three members of the TSM with Ocean Soul now on the map. As a result, they took the Ocean Soul during the fight in the pit as they ace TSM and look to end the game at the 23rd minute.
FNC used the pressure to take a free Baron Buff as their lead nears 10k. FNC continued to push their lead down the mid lane, picking up two more kills and the mid lane inhibitor to boot. With TSM respawning FNC didn’t relent as they continued to push down the base and take the nexus. With that FNC moved to 3-1, and TSM went to 0-4 and is eliminated from advancing any further in Worlds 2020.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 25:32
- Kills: 17-3
- Turrets: 8-0
- Gold: 50.9k – 38.1k
- Dragons: 4-0
- Barons: 1-0
LGD Gaming vs Gen.G
With FNC picking up the win, the pressure was on LGD and Gen.G to win to keep up the pressure on the European side as they moved into the first spot in the group. Gen.G did pick up the win against LGD when the sides met in the first round-robin. But LGD was able to beat both FNC and TSM, so they’ll be hoping for an upset against the LCK side. LGD made a 2v1 dive on the Gen.G top lane but Peanut overextended and was punished under the tower as Gen.G secured First Blood. Clid and Rascal then continued to punish the misplay as they dove the LGD top lane tower for another kill. LGD do get themselves a kill onto Peanut eventually, as they finally pick up a kill.
Gen.G snowballing through the Rift
Gen.G continued to snowball the early lead. They accumulated a 2k lead at the eight-minute mark as LGD forced a lane swap to try and get back into the match. With the game slowing, Gen.G moved to 3k ahead as they kept up the global map pressure after picking up the first tower. LGD finally managed to get something on the board after losing two members in the mid lane, they picked up three kills for themselves and two major shutdowns go over the key members on LGD. As both teams posture for the third drake, LGD claimed it and picked up a kill for their trouble. In the extended fight, both teams go three-for-three as LGD keep themselves alive in the game. Gen.G won a fight before Baron, claiming two kills and picking up a free Baron Buff, as LGD’s hard work is undone.
First, Gen.G secured an easy bot lane inhibitor. Then they moved to the mid lane as they gained massively off the Baron Power Play. LGD makes a game-saving attempt as they get an early kill on Gen.G. As the fight extends they pick up three more for one in return as LGD stay alive in the game. They crucially kept their Nexus turrets alive and claimed a Baron Buff for themselves as they closed the gold lead down to 1.5k. As Gen.G claimed the Soul point LGD made a crazy play through the mid lane and took down all the Nexus towers of Gen.G. Gen.G are able to defend, however as they counter-attack and take down the LGD base to secure the victory and go 3-1
Quick Stats:
- Time: 34:17
- Kills: 16-19
- Turrets: 7-11
- Gold: 63k – 66.4k
- Dragons: 2-3
- Barons: 1-1
TSM vs Gen.G
With TSM out of Worlds, Gen.G could pile the pressure onto FNC with a win, after they won the crucial match against LGD. Victory would place Gen.G in a strong position for the first seed, putting their series against FNC as the big deciding game, providing FNC could beat LGD. TSM picked up the first blood as TSM are able to punish Clid as he escaped the TSM jungle. Gen.G picked up one in return, while TSM managed to pick up a second as they start the game strong. The NA squad continued to dominate the early game, picking up key kills in the top lane, with the first turret taken top they moved to a near 2k lead.
TSM caught sleeping
TSM yet again got a team fight victory as they took down two members of Gen.G around the drake, then followed it up by diving Gen.G. There, TSM took the tower, two more kills, a turret, and a drake. TSM goes 5k ahead as they look to style on the LCK side. A 5v5 fight breaks out in the Gen.G jungle and some clutch plays from both sides see them share two kills apiece as the drake spawns on the map. Both teams walk away as TSM maintained a lead.
A fight is again forced in the mid lane after TSM picked up the drake, they get an early kill with Clid down. TSM moved towards the Baron, then turned to stop Gen.G. With TSM not wanting the fight they moved back to secure Baron as Gen.G looked to re-engage. But TSM left the pit and Spica used his Smite to survive, so he loses the Baron buff and dies in the process. In this crazy turn of events, TSM somehow managed to throw a free Baron buff.
As TSM farmed the Gen.G jungle, Gen.G decided to walk into the TSM base and take a middle inhibitor. As Gen.G pulled away they attempted to spring a trap inside the TSM jungle but nothing came of it. TSM gets caught out again in the mid lane and Gen.G picked up two kills. Though TSM did punish one kill in return as Gen.G moved towards Baron Buff. TSM attempts to take the Gen.G mid lane inhibitor but it goes horribly wrong as Gen.G Ace TSM and wins the game.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 39:01
- Kills: 15-17
- Turrets: 6-9
- Gold: 65.5k – 70.6k
- Dragons: 2-3
- Barons: 0-2
Fnatic vs LGD Gaming
FNC came into the game knowing a win locks them in for a spot in Worlds Knockouts, with just a series against Gen.G left to decide their fate. As for LGD, they needed to beat FNC to stay in Worlds, with TSM left to play. FNC picked up a huge level one kill after Peanut invades their jungle and are able to get a kill onto Rekkles with the LGD bot lane burning all but one Summoner Spell. A crazy fight breaks out in the LGD jungle as FNC lose four for two in an extended fight with multiple people on low health bars. In the process, LGD brought the FNC cold lead down to just 500g.
Fnatic Week Two buff enabled
FNC bungle a dive on the LGD bot lane and it costs them their bot lane. Selfmade does die but he manages to get something for his team in return as FNC at least picked up the First Blood tower. But FNC clapped back with yet more aggression as the second drake spawns on the map. Here, they picked up three more kills. FNC yet again found a massive engagement onto LGD as they picked up four kills and both the mid lane towers as FNC moved to nearly 10k ahead. Next, FNC takes the third drake as Nemesis is caught out. LGD commits five members to stopping him, however, which means Bwipo is able to take down the bot lane inhibitor.
FNC smelled blood as they collapsed on LGD in the top lane and took down four members of LGD as they tried to end the game without Baron Buff. They take down the Nexus turrets and win the match. With this win, FNC heads to the Knockout Stage of Worlds.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 28:14
- Kills: 22-9
- Turrets: 9-2
- Gold: 58.4k – 45.3k
- Dragons: 3-1
- Barons: 0-0
LGD Gaming vs TSM
LGD vs TSM is a match that means nothing in the grand scheme of things for Worlds, but TSM didn’t want to go 0-6 and become the first major region first seed to do so in Worlds history. As for LGD, they went 0-2 so far today, so they wanted to make a statement in their final game against the NA first seed.
First Blood goes over to Xiye as he solo kills Bjergsen in a 1v1 under his own tower. TSM did manage to claw back some gold in the mid lane as a three-man gank sees them grab a kill but LGD is quickly able to retake the lead moments later.
LGD do TSM dirty as they go 0-6 in groups
TSM got a big pick for Doublelift, however, as they retreated LGD was able to collapse onto them. With this, they maintained their 2k lead as they dropped Rift Herald into the mid lane. After picking up a kill on the top side, TSM moved toward the second Rift Herald. They failed to secure it but picked up an early kill in return. LGD, however, pushed them back and returned two kills in the initial fight as TSM limped away back to their tier two as LGD went 3.5k ahead. TSM does manage to claim the third drake as they move to Soul point. However, LGD quickly moved towards Baron Buff as they claimed it and both teams moved away from the river with LGD 5k ahead.
With Baron Buff, LGD took the bot lane inhibitor and recall back to their base as they gained a 2k Baron Power Play. LGD is able to catch out a flanking Broken Blade, he survives but as he fights a 2v2 in the jungle his team loses their mid lane inhibitor. At the same time, LGD also moved to Soul point drake. TSM managed to pick up a key kill as they moved to the Baron but LGD went for the base. TSM picked up the Buff but LGD was able to take down the nexus as they took down TSM.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 37:42
- Kills: 9-9
- Turrets: 9-3
- Gold: 65.8k – 61.2k
- Dragons: 3-3
- Barons: 1-1
Gen.G vs Fnatic
The final game of the day would be the first and second seed decider. With Gen.G and FNC matching each other up until this point, the winner would leave the group as the first seed. Despite a 2-0 day for both sides, FNC went into the match as the more dominant team. Gen.G showed some weakness against LGD, while FNC looking dominant across their games.
FNC’s comp gets off to a perfect start after Graves is able to pick up a kill in the mid lane. Gen.G manages to get a kill back on the top side, however, but Nemesis TP’s top to re-secure the kill. The early game madness continued as Gen.G pick up even more kills on the top and bot sides as they go 1.5k ahead.
Fnatic draft late, lose early instead
The game continued to go Gen.G’s way, with the second Rift Herald now knocking down the FNC inhibitor turret. FNC’s comp just isn’t even able to come online with Gen.G picking up constant kills across the map as they moved 9k ahead. Gen.G started the Baron, and they’re able to claim the buff before FNC is able to react. The ensuing fight sees Gen.G pick up the early kill, with FNC unable to do enough damage in the pit to take down any member of Gen.G as they flee the battle towards their base. Gen.G finally re-engages and it’s too much for FNC who lose four members as Gen.G reset and pushed the top lane for the win.
They took down the base uncontested as they claimed one of the fastest victories at Worlds 2020 and secured their spot as first seed out of Group C.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 23:05
- Kills: 14-5
- Turrets: 10-2
- Gold: 50k – 36.2k
- Dragons: 3-0
- Barons: 1-0
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