After the regular season of the first LEC split, we have to come back to the good surprises and disappointments of the 2019 League of Legends. Between the incredible recovery of Fnatic and the many games lost at the end of the season by G2 Esports, the Spring Split 2019 of the LEC had its share of surprises. For this article, we have selected three teams whose performances were either above or below our pre-season expectations.
Surprises
SK Gaming
With a team filled almost entirely with rookies, including three former MAD Lions players, no one imagined that SK Gaming would be so successful. Of course, they had their fair share of troubles, because of the lack of experience. But this is the only team to have conceded no loss to Fnatic during their meteoric rise.
The return of SK Gaming among the big names in Europe is happening under the best auspices. Indeed, qualifying for the playoffs in their first split makes up a very good performance. In addition, players such as Selfmade and Crownshot who are making decent headlines will surely be in the spotlight for the Playoffs.
The cheeky smile after you slide into playoffs in the last second.
📸 @lolesports #LEC #SKWIN pic.twitter.com/aK7PkUBist
— SK Gaming (@SKGaming) March 18, 2019
The German team will face Splyce on March 30. Their incredible season may not be over! Anyway, they will be counted among the teams to watch during the Summer Split. It is difficult to see how a team so young could not continue to progress.
Origen
Origen’s return to the big stage made a lot of noise in the pre-season and the presence of Deficio alongside xPeke could only accentuate the expectations. However, when we discovered the squad, nobody would have placed this team among the favorites. Yet, after a difficult start to the season, Origen suddenly rose in ranks. Origen is the first team to defeat the first ranked G2 Esports.
With a calm and controlled game, Nukeduck and his teammates have won against the very aggressive game of other formations. Now sitting in second place, they are even favorites for the playoffs, given the glaring decline of the samurai.
The big stage beckons.
@Origengg are going to Rotterdam next week after securing second place and a spot in the #LEC Spring Playoffs.
Vamos boys! #WeAreOrigen pic.twitter.com/F5qZ1ieEj0
— OMEN UK (@OMENbyHP_UK) March 22, 2019
The match of April 5, against G2, looks rather interesting, we can only expect a beautiful show from both sides!
DIsappointments
Schalke 04
Although they did not finish so far from the expected place and a victory in the tiebreaker would have taken them in the playoffs, Schalke 04 players were disappointing. What is particularly shocking is their second part of Split, where the team goes from one of the best of the championship to worst. The control of the game they were showing at the start of the season seems to have vanished.
Could it get any spicier than with a german derby for the last spot in the playoffs? We are ready! LET'S DO THIS! #SchalkeNullFear #S04WIN
💻 https://t.co/1z91nNvgyR pic.twitter.com/rBpTF6TxPx
— Schalke 04 Esports (@S04Esports) March 16, 2019
The change of meta is probably for something but can we really use that as an excuse? Can a team whose game only works in one meta be considered well? League of Legends is a game that requires a lot of adaptability in its perpetual evolution, a good team should, therefore, be able to survive over a long period.
