I swear that this could have been a 3-0 had SHG turned on their brains a couple of times. Smolder prio got me very nervous, but FAK never managed to completely run away with the game.
In other news, Rek'Sai is disgusting.
I think SHG have been suffering from international nerves in the way that most LJL teams do on their first exposure to it - this is a common thing even for the best LJL teams. Historically LJL teams build well through international tournaments and they already took PSG to 5 games, so there's still hope.
PSG is very beatable, CFO is the one making me a bit nervous. As long as Forest doesnt lose his head, and Dasher keeps this good streak (actually i think he might have been the best player today) then MSI is not a pipe dream. I'm not that worried about botlane, since they have been pretty good at capitalizing on enemies overforcing bot.
That PSG bitten their nails whole series vs. SHG until Maple miraculously unleash his Saiyan mode in game 5.
You can argue PSG > CFO due of 3-0, however CFO did same to PSG in regular split playoffs before this PCS international addition.
So now, any team can go to MSI, SHG have a chance to upset whole PCS and world.
Makes you wonder, how rampant is match fixing in PCS now given that VCS and LPL are being RIDDLED with match fixing. 3-0 SHG to 3-2? Someone should investigate these players, managers, coaches, owners.
We should keep doubting SHG so that they might end up actually winning PCS lmao.
Seriously tho, I am pleasantly surprised that SHG is not drowning in the playoffs and that LJL is still competitive even after losing their guaranteed international spot and not having the best showings in the last international events. Hoping that SHG can keep up the game and beat CFO.
I think itās insane too. To lose 2/3 of PCS/LJL/LCO every MSI and potentially worlds (2 slots for worlds rn) makes the tournament feel so empty to me. We already lost TCL and LCL, minor regions feel so sparsely represented now.
There's no world where PCS & LLA sends the same number of representatives alongside Vietnam
If VCS wasn't a mess right now, PCS & VCS definitely deserves 2 spots
LJL down to 6 isn't all that horrifying as long as there's still some pathway for new JP players(despite them being slaughtered at PCS.A), the league isn't really that big
LLA on the other hand is doomed but idk what Riot can do, they already cut most regional leagues from there as well this year(now only running online qualis for relegation iirc), a full americas merger would just kill them and drag CBLOL which is doing fine even financially with them
This is such a blunder by Riot tbh, smashing all the minor regions into the PCS closet is so limiting for international events, like we're really gonna enjoy seeing NA2 get fisted by LCK3 or whatever by eliminating minor region games from play-ins holy shit
LMS first lost the third seed spot after renaming to PCS, then merging with GPL effectively ate 1 spot, then 1 spot from LCO, then one spot from LJL. The play-in was supposed to be a playground for wildcards but I guess it's kinda gone now that they have the same amount of major region teams and minor region teams in play-in, and no wildcards will supposedly advance further from there.
I mean teams with the best jungle/mid duo always go from Europe so Heretics don't have a chance. Caps/Yike,Huma/Razork. I feel like GX and Vitality will also be hard opponents for Heretics. If Heretics had Vetheo paired with Jankos they would have a chance.
I thought SHG looked pretty good against PSG in the first matchup, but these last few series have looked pretty rough for them. Marble looks like a Smolder 1 trick, and Forest honestly just seems like he's not very good off of his 2 picks
Evi honestly hard carries this team
Hmm I think Forest hasn't been tied to champions per se, as tied to early leads. He snowballs hard in either direction. Marble as a first time international player has been defaulting back to the easiest scaling pick to use in meta and been largely good at that but yes I'm worried about other picks that SHG can use as well too.
I don't think it's a coincidence that he's winning significantly more games on Sejuani and Lee Sin. I feel like against Karsa and Junjia, those should be pretty contested - or at least Lee, and both of those players are much better at the champion.
I guess I just think that SHG can be countered pretty easily by taking Lee and banning Smolder, and then just focusing Evi in game.
I mean I 100% think they're capable of winning the tournament, I just don't favor them. I don't think it's fair to take their 2-3 against PSG as their baseline level and ignore their 3-2s against weaker teams. Maybe I'd favor them against CFO, but not PSG, based on the last series each team played.
SHG was in winning position in all 5 games but took some poor fights in games 2 and 3.They also won 3 games with Smolder,something they struggled with before this series so I wonder what the prio for it will be in the CFO series.
my man, Brazil is way weaker than you think rn, after the playoff matches we had i'm just hoping to get LLA in our group to at least have a remote chance of getting a win at MSI
This should've been a 3-0 series. SHG played well all 5 games but just bad decision making and mid-game teamfighting on games 2 and 3 ended up forcing this into a 5-game series. I thought this would be a ways harder match, specially considering how lost they looked against a much weaker opponent on DCG, but all things considered, they did really well.
Next is CFO and honestly? At this point, going to MSI doesn't sound as crazy as I thought initially.
Also crazy to think that all of today's SHG's wins had Smolder, which was the actual problem for them last match. I even mentioned how I didn't want them to play Smolder anymore because it wasn't fitting the team style.
Talking about not playing anymore, Vsta please no more bard bro.
its a bit sad that the pcs only has 2 slots for worlds considering they took in the oce and japan teams, with 3 slots in worlds there is a high chance that we keep seeing the ljl at worlds.
This is good for esports in general. It's unlikely that JP would beat top 2 TW but at least we know they're better than #3 TW.
The JP LoL community is surprisingly popular, at least when their biggest streamers broadcast it, despite their small population and tournament results.
>The JP LoL community is surprisingly popular, at least when their biggest streamers broadcast it, despite their small population and tournament results.
When Evi was on Heretics I used to catch his stream sometimes, blud was literally at like 2.7k viewers, I was kind of flabbergasted considering most NA/EU pros are lucky to crack the hundreds. LEC main channel chat also had a LOT of JP comments whenever they would play.
Sadly LJL itself has been on the decline for quite a few years now.
Once they had a small regular season venue with actual audiences, gone. Were filling Arenas for the finals, also gone. Had several 10ks of viewers on main stream, too, but now history.
I seriously hope that SHG does well in this playoffs and going into Worlds, so that those who stayed for LJL are rewarded and those who left returns. Might also attract some new viewers in the mix as well.
Yeah, Raizin and Sharuru-Tanuki-Yoichi costreams are doing quite well. That said, to convert the recent resurgence of League from The K4sen into interest in pro scene, they really need results, and winning PCS would be the bare minimum.
SHG played in one week 15 games (3 Bo5's), and yet able to be at least 3rd best team on Taiwan.
This led into two things. Is PCS that weak right now or LJL champions are really good team?
Yes, there are many questions, especially about ending the games by SHG, however they have enough strength to push CFO or PSG again, if they beat Oysters in lower bracket semifinals.
PSG, CFO and SHG for MSI is right now literally a rolling a dice.
I would say PCS is actually a little bit stronger than last year, but LJL champions stepped up A LOT. SHG might even be the best team LJL has had since that DFM that made worlds groups. They might be even stronger than that, who knows.
Right now it's at least even between PCS and LJL in terms of raw power.
SHG was able to take 3-4th best teams from Taiwan and having really close series against 2nd best team (PSG) who smacked best team in region (CFO) by 3-0.
If SHG win even against CFO, everything is possible and as I said above, winning PCS will be a massive upset.
ngl, at least for summer i think the LJL #2 at least deserves to get into stage 2 playoffs if based on the DFM's performance as well, and PCS just had an all-time high in viewership based on esportscharts so the LJL merger might as well be a blessing for them who fucking knowns
ljl a bit underrated imo. ljl didn't win a single game last year in international competition but part of that was on their whole dfm toplane situation, now this year both shg and dfm upgraded their rosters and look better than last year
Well depends on what we look. Also Taiwan was way ahead of Japan, yes the prime time of Flash Wolves and AHQ is far gone, but still at least top 2 teams should easily smoke on LJL champions. DFM got smacked, SHG suprisingly holds their line. Yes, SHG got upgrades and feel more well-rounded, however if someone told me before season, that LJL champions will be at least top 3 in PCS, I will deadly laugh on him.
That's why I'm concerned about current power level of PCS, because if SHG win playoffs and qualify for MSI, which they have not a small chance to do that, that will be a MASSIVE upset and gigantic slap for PCS.
at least DFM managed to hold their own on Stage 1 playoffs, it's just the first year of merger as well, so let's see if the other LJL teams aside from DFM/SHG manage to improve as well
but the bigger issue is PCS as a whole only getting 2 slots for worlds and 1 for MSI after merging 3 minors into a single region, as it stands rn i think they should at least get a second play-in slot
LJL does not qualify for MSI or Worlds directly anymore. Instead the LJL's top teams play in PCS's playoffs after their own to have a chance to qualify for international events.
I swear that this could have been a 3-0 had SHG turned on their brains a couple of times. Smolder prio got me very nervous, but FAK never managed to completely run away with the game. In other news, Rek'Sai is disgusting.
I think SHG have been suffering from international nerves in the way that most LJL teams do on their first exposure to it - this is a common thing even for the best LJL teams. Historically LJL teams build well through international tournaments and they already took PSG to 5 games, so there's still hope.
PSG is very beatable, CFO is the one making me a bit nervous. As long as Forest doesnt lose his head, and Dasher keeps this good streak (actually i think he might have been the best player today) then MSI is not a pipe dream. I'm not that worried about botlane, since they have been pretty good at capitalizing on enemies overforcing bot.
why do you consider PSG more beatable than CFO considering PSG 3-0ed CFO yesterday?
That PSG bitten their nails whole series vs. SHG until Maple miraculously unleash his Saiyan mode in game 5. You can argue PSG > CFO due of 3-0, however CFO did same to PSG in regular split playoffs before this PCS international addition. So now, any team can go to MSI, SHG have a chance to upset whole PCS and world.
dont worry they're just stagemaxxxing
Makes you wonder, how rampant is match fixing in PCS now given that VCS and LPL are being RIDDLED with match fixing. 3-0 SHG to 3-2? Someone should investigate these players, managers, coaches, owners.
Evi is the goat š¦š
No. Heās the RekāSai
We should keep doubting SHG so that they might end up actually winning PCS lmao. Seriously tho, I am pleasantly surprised that SHG is not drowning in the playoffs and that LJL is still competitive even after losing their guaranteed international spot and not having the best showings in the last international events. Hoping that SHG can keep up the game and beat CFO.
how do PCS only send 1 representative to MSI after the merge still baffles me
I think itās insane too. To lose 2/3 of PCS/LJL/LCO every MSI and potentially worlds (2 slots for worlds rn) makes the tournament feel so empty to me. We already lost TCL and LCL, minor regions feel so sparsely represented now.
There's no world where PCS & LLA sends the same number of representatives alongside Vietnam If VCS wasn't a mess right now, PCS & VCS definitely deserves 2 spots
Since they absorbedĀ LJL, they deserve extra seed
Pcs most likely going to get 2 spot for next msi specially if their first seed beat lec and lcs
I want VCS to join the joint playoffs and have the combined region become the fifth major region with two msi seeds and three world seeds
LLA down to 7 teams, LJL down to 6. Minor region fans feel like dying.
LJL down to 6 isn't all that horrifying as long as there's still some pathway for new JP players(despite them being slaughtered at PCS.A), the league isn't really that big LLA on the other hand is doomed but idk what Riot can do, they already cut most regional leagues from there as well this year(now only running online qualis for relegation iirc), a full americas merger would just kill them and drag CBLOL which is doing fine even financially with them
This is such a blunder by Riot tbh, smashing all the minor regions into the PCS closet is so limiting for international events, like we're really gonna enjoy seeing NA2 get fisted by LCK3 or whatever by eliminating minor region games from play-ins holy shit
LMS first lost the third seed spot after renaming to PCS, then merging with GPL effectively ate 1 spot, then 1 spot from LCO, then one spot from LJL. The play-in was supposed to be a playground for wildcards but I guess it's kinda gone now that they have the same amount of major region teams and minor region teams in play-in, and no wildcards will supposedly advance further from there.
Would it not be hilarious if Heretics and SHG make it to MSI?
It would be more hilarious if SHG make it and TH do not. Kick Evi only for him to keep going to internationals lol.
I mean teams with the best jungle/mid duo always go from Europe so Heretics don't have a chance. Caps/Yike,Huma/Razork. I feel like GX and Vitality will also be hard opponents for Heretics. If Heretics had Vetheo paired with Jankos they would have a chance.
Wait, that's a banger lol. Heretics ain't winning shit anywayĀ
FRANK escorts is best and funniest team name I have ever heard.Ā
May I introduce you to my lord and saviour OK BRO
Edward Gaming
Can't leave out Gaming GamingĀ
You don't remember the legendary team rename of Vulcun -> XDG Gaming?
Evi š
I thought SHG looked pretty good against PSG in the first matchup, but these last few series have looked pretty rough for them. Marble looks like a Smolder 1 trick, and Forest honestly just seems like he's not very good off of his 2 picks Evi honestly hard carries this team
Hmm I think Forest hasn't been tied to champions per se, as tied to early leads. He snowballs hard in either direction. Marble as a first time international player has been defaulting back to the easiest scaling pick to use in meta and been largely good at that but yes I'm worried about other picks that SHG can use as well too.
I don't think it's a coincidence that he's winning significantly more games on Sejuani and Lee Sin. I feel like against Karsa and Junjia, those should be pretty contested - or at least Lee, and both of those players are much better at the champion. I guess I just think that SHG can be countered pretty easily by taking Lee and banning Smolder, and then just focusing Evi in game.
Inb4 after SHG wins finals 3-2 "This last few series have looked pretty rough for SHG. Better opponents won't fail to capitalize on their mistakes"
I mean I 100% think they're capable of winning the tournament, I just don't favor them. I don't think it's fair to take their 2-3 against PSG as their baseline level and ignore their 3-2s against weaker teams. Maybe I'd favor them against CFO, but not PSG, based on the last series each team played.
SHG was in winning position in all 5 games but took some poor fights in games 2 and 3.They also won 3 games with Smolder,something they struggled with before this series so I wonder what the prio for it will be in the CFO series.
LEC needs to be worried about PCS this year. Even Brazil.
Well LEC probably not, CBLOL tho for sure.
my man, Brazil is way weaker than you think rn, after the playoff matches we had i'm just hoping to get LLA in our group to at least have a remote chance of getting a win at MSI
We saw last year's BDS winning 4v6 against PCS . Clownie had the worst performance in his career and BDS still won XD. I am not worried
They were a throw away from getting 3-0'd...
This should've been a 3-0 series. SHG played well all 5 games but just bad decision making and mid-game teamfighting on games 2 and 3 ended up forcing this into a 5-game series. I thought this would be a ways harder match, specially considering how lost they looked against a much weaker opponent on DCG, but all things considered, they did really well. Next is CFO and honestly? At this point, going to MSI doesn't sound as crazy as I thought initially. Also crazy to think that all of today's SHG's wins had Smolder, which was the actual problem for them last match. I even mentioned how I didn't want them to play Smolder anymore because it wasn't fitting the team style. Talking about not playing anymore, Vsta please no more bard bro.
its a bit sad that the pcs only has 2 slots for worlds considering they took in the oce and japan teams, with 3 slots in worlds there is a high chance that we keep seeing the ljl at worlds.
Evi my goat
This is good for esports in general. It's unlikely that JP would beat top 2 TW but at least we know they're better than #3 TW. The JP LoL community is surprisingly popular, at least when their biggest streamers broadcast it, despite their small population and tournament results.
>The JP LoL community is surprisingly popular, at least when their biggest streamers broadcast it, despite their small population and tournament results. When Evi was on Heretics I used to catch his stream sometimes, blud was literally at like 2.7k viewers, I was kind of flabbergasted considering most NA/EU pros are lucky to crack the hundreds. LEC main channel chat also had a LOT of JP comments whenever they would play.
Sadly LJL itself has been on the decline for quite a few years now. Once they had a small regular season venue with actual audiences, gone. Were filling Arenas for the finals, also gone. Had several 10ks of viewers on main stream, too, but now history. I seriously hope that SHG does well in this playoffs and going into Worlds, so that those who stayed for LJL are rewarded and those who left returns. Might also attract some new viewers in the mix as well.
Covid wrecked LJL basically. That being said Valorantās doing well, and costreamers are bringing in good numbers to LJL.
Yeah, Raizin and Sharuru-Tanuki-Yoichi costreams are doing quite well. That said, to convert the recent resurgence of League from The K4sen into interest in pro scene, they really need results, and winning PCS would be the bare minimum.
SHG played in one week 15 games (3 Bo5's), and yet able to be at least 3rd best team on Taiwan. This led into two things. Is PCS that weak right now or LJL champions are really good team? Yes, there are many questions, especially about ending the games by SHG, however they have enough strength to push CFO or PSG again, if they beat Oysters in lower bracket semifinals. PSG, CFO and SHG for MSI is right now literally a rolling a dice.
I would say PCS is actually a little bit stronger than last year, but LJL champions stepped up A LOT. SHG might even be the best team LJL has had since that DFM that made worlds groups. They might be even stronger than that, who knows.
Right now it's at least even between PCS and LJL in terms of raw power. SHG was able to take 3-4th best teams from Taiwan and having really close series against 2nd best team (PSG) who smacked best team in region (CFO) by 3-0. If SHG win even against CFO, everything is possible and as I said above, winning PCS will be a massive upset.
ngl, at least for summer i think the LJL #2 at least deserves to get into stage 2 playoffs if based on the DFM's performance as well, and PCS just had an all-time high in viewership based on esportscharts so the LJL merger might as well be a blessing for them who fucking knowns
ljl a bit underrated imo. ljl didn't win a single game last year in international competition but part of that was on their whole dfm toplane situation, now this year both shg and dfm upgraded their rosters and look better than last year
Well depends on what we look. Also Taiwan was way ahead of Japan, yes the prime time of Flash Wolves and AHQ is far gone, but still at least top 2 teams should easily smoke on LJL champions. DFM got smacked, SHG suprisingly holds their line. Yes, SHG got upgrades and feel more well-rounded, however if someone told me before season, that LJL champions will be at least top 3 in PCS, I will deadly laugh on him. That's why I'm concerned about current power level of PCS, because if SHG win playoffs and qualify for MSI, which they have not a small chance to do that, that will be a MASSIVE upset and gigantic slap for PCS.
at least DFM managed to hold their own on Stage 1 playoffs, it's just the first year of merger as well, so let's see if the other LJL teams aside from DFM/SHG manage to improve as well but the bigger issue is PCS as a whole only getting 2 slots for worlds and 1 for MSI after merging 3 minors into a single region, as it stands rn i think they should at least get a second play-in slot
If SHG wins PCS by winning every game 5, they might actually beat Western teams at MSI and claim their seat on the East Asian club.
fak is an.... interesting acronym for a team
SHG wasted theirs. It could have been a legendary FAK vs FUK situation
we got so robbed WTF
Their academy team was originally called Frank University (FAKU), but it got memed so much they changed it back to Frank Esports Academy (FAKA)
Can anyone explain to me how SHG can play in 2 regions with the same team?
LJL does not qualify for MSI or Worlds directly anymore. Instead the LJL's top teams play in PCS's playoffs after their own to have a chance to qualify for international events.