League of Legends Worlds 2014 Group Stage 2 Roundup .

The second leg of the stage event started off in Singapore. The following teams which participated in Groups C and D are, in no particular order; LMQ, Fnatic (FNC), Cloud 9 (C9), OMG, Najin White Shield (NWS), Samsung Galaxy Blue (SSB), Alliance (ALL), LMQ and KaBuM! eSports (KBM). Tensions were up and the crowd was pumped as exceptions were high for all teams, especially SSB, having SSW get a 6-0 run at the first group stage.

DAY 1

Day 1 seemed to be a show of dominance as LMQ and C9 both finish the day off as leaders, with a 2-0 score. LMQ being full on aggressive on both games against OMG and FNC as they tred to end the game as quick as possible. C9 however, having different play styles to match their opponent to ensure victory, going slow and smart in the game against ALL and passive aggressive in the game against KBM.

In C9s game against ALL, calling that game a safe game was an understatement as the first kill takes place just barely at 18 minutes and the next one a little after given both teams their first kills. The game continues in such a state where both teams were evenly matched in terms of champions and towers downed. C9 manages to take out the bottom and middle towers as well as the inhibitors. And in an unexpected turn of events, we find all of C9 and ALL at top lane just out of ALLs base as minions and super minions from middle and bottom lane push their way towards the Nexus, ALL suddenly gets wiped and C9 make their way down the Nexus, giving them their first victory of the Group Stage event.

SSB and NWS both follow to the leader board having a 1-0 score. Both teams were being aggressive in their matches. NWS managing a remarkable game as the finishing overview shows none of their towers have been taken out during the entire game and only have lost one champion to KBM.

And in the match between SSB and OMG, things were pretty even during the start of the game till the end as both SSB and OMG focused on pushing and farming most of the time, keeping clashes and ganks to a minimal. OMG put on a good fight, though SSB had the clear advantage numerous times as they outplayed OMG during most of the clashes to come. Just before the game ended, SSB had wiped OMG on a clash at middle and continued their way to take out the entire middle lane and head straight to the nexus, ending the game, 22-10.

OMG, ALL, KBM and FNC however, have to wait for Day 2 to try and redeem themselves with 0 wins for the day.

DAY 2

NWS took the number one spot on day 2 having won both their matches against ALL and C9, giving them a score of 3-0 at this point. In their first game of the day against ALL, it seemed like all was lost as ALL was looking to dominate the game, having a huge lead in terms of kills and dragons taken down by the 17th minute of the game and the kill board at 0-7. Though with an amazing display of strategy and a never say die attitude, we see NWS make a comeback as they are able to push both middle and bottom lane despite ALLs efforts to defend, eventually resulting in NWS taking their new found momentum straight to the nexus, giving them their 2nd win of the stage event.

SSB however, didn’t have as good a day, losing their game against FNC and winning against LMQ later on the day. SSB as focused as they were on their first game, exchanging hits early on and also following through with some safe kills play. Though as if destiny were against them during this game, SSB makes a terrible mistake going in for a pick off at middle lane as FNC backs away. And instead of backing off completely, all of FNC suddenly rains down their entire arsenal wiping out most of SSB and continues their push at bottom lane. FNC continues their onslaught as they pushed the top lane and kill a couple of champions in the process. They later on continue to destroy the bottom inhibitor and regroup at middle lane in an attempt to deliver a final push, FNC at this point has a gold lead of over 15k, and with one last push at middle lane, they finally manage to end the game, giving SSB their first loss as FNC takes out the nexus.

SSB taking the loss to FNC very hard

Day 2 ends having NWS lead the group with 3-0. C9, LMQ and SSB all with 2-1, FNC and OMG at 1-2, ALL at 1-1 and KBM with 0-3.

DAY 3

FNC against OMG? There’s only one thing I can say about this opening game. LONG CLUTCH. Not only was this game intensely long, a total of 71 minutes, it’s was also heart pounding and tear jerking as FNC had numerous opportunities to win the game with OMGs nexus down to ONE LAST HIT. OMG ,makes an amazing comeback as they dash like mad down the middle lane right after a successful wipe clash. Amazing? Yes. Insane? Even more so. During the dash where OMG made their way from inside their base down to FNCs base, they had super minions at top lane breathing down their base just inches away from their nexus only being slowed by the minions that had just spawned, and still they manage to beat the super minions by just so much.

OMG barely holding on at this point as their Nexus could easily be taken out in just one hit.

The surprises aren’t over yet as ALL managed to steal a victory under NWS during the last match of the day. NWS seems to be dreaming at this game as ALL tramples over them with little resistance. At the end of the match, ALL has a 25k gold lead with a 14-0 run and losing no towers.

NWS takes the lead at the end of the day despite having lost to ALL at the last game, with a score of 4-1 followed by SSB with 3-1 and ALL with 3-2. OMG and FNC trailing with 2-3, C9 and LMQ with 2-2 and KBM 0-4.

DAY 4

Day 4 came as a surprise for most as the match between KBM and ALL. Everyone had figured at this point that KBM would suffer the same fate as Dark Passage during the first Group Stage event. Yet they astonish everyone as they somehow manages to grab a win during their last game in the group stage event also denying ALL a possible triple tiebreaker against C9 and NWS in the process.

The game between FNC and SSB was also be another nerve-wrecking match as SSB would not want to have a repeat loss against FNC during their final match of the event. SSB quickly gets the first blood before the first wave of minions ever spawn. Surprisingly enough, FNC is able to equalize the game having killed one of SSB as they attempted to gank for a second kill. Things were pretty intense the whole match as both teams exchanged kills here and there, one gank at a time. Though things escalated quickly as SSB makes a questionable trade mid-game, taking out Baron and adding a champion kill while FNC takes out SSBs bottom lane as well as the inhibitor.

SSB seemed to have the advantage later on as they were able to push their way at top lane, destroying the inhibitor and heading to kill off Baron for the baron buff leaving FNC the dragon. SSB seems to have the game at their fingertips as they push the bottom lane taking out the inhibitor and in a brave move, make their way to the top lane to destroy the inhibitor that has just respawned. SSB makes their way and try to push middle lane and a colossal clash ensue as SSB and FNC both exchange kills one after another. Despite all that transpired, SSB still presses on the middle lane, eventually breaking the tower and with the help of the super minions from top and bottom lane, taking down the nexus, giving SSB their 5th and final win of the stage event and also ending FNCs run at Worlds 2014.

C9 also makes an incredible comeback game against NWS at what was thought to be the second to the last game of the event. The game progresses slow as both C9 and NWS want to play this game safely. It takes a full 15 minutes before a tower is destroyed and champion is killed, in favor of C9. C9 also seems to be on their game here, as they wait patiently for NWS to make mistakes and capitalize from it. C9 eventually gets the upper hand of the game near end as they win an important clash at the top lane of NWS by decimating the last tower and the inhibitor as well as three champions before backing away. C9 then proceeds downwards, aiming to take down the second tower and continuing up to the last tower and breaking an inhibitor as well.

The game seems to be in favor of C9 at this point, having super minions pouring down at NWS from the top and bottom simultaneously. NWS, anxious to make a comeback, try their luck at middle lane and try to force a clahs with C9. Though, amazing as it sounds unbelievable, C9 managed to dodge all of NWSs setups and disengage in a brilliant fashion only to come back fiercer than ever as they manage to completely wipe the floor with NWS, leaving no one to defend for NWS. The game finally ends as C9 made their way to the top lane, by passing middle and joing the super minions as they made their final push at the nexus, ending a very long 52 minute slug fest.

Cloud 9 ecstatic with their win against NWS, forcing a tiebreaker game later on.

With this win, C9 forces NWS in a tiebreaker game later at the end of the day.

The tiebreaker game was like an all or nothing, do or die game. As NWS seems to take control of the game by racking up champion kills and gold as the game progresses. But looking at the game close up, we can clearly see that C9 actually has the upper hand here having downed the bottom tower and inhibitor as well as one nexus tower.

C9 though, doing multiple things at a time, pushing top lane, bottom lane and harassing middle lane, get too distracted and lose their last middle tower, leaving the inhibitor open. Though the chaos, they are able to break the bottom inhibitor once more. NWS responds by taking Baron, clearing the two champions at their bottom base and also adding a dragon to their loot. C9 at this point, is at a clear disadvantage as NWS starts press harder on all sides. Though C9 manages to bring the last nexus tower to low health, their efforts seem to be in vain as the tower does not fall and their top lane is decimated.

NWS finally took hold of the game, downing the nexus thanks to two lanes of super minion and three of their champions still pushing as most of C9 have been wiped due to failed ganks and bad push attempts, finally making C9 face SSB in the quarter finals.

The second group stage event finally comes to an end after 25 grueling matches. SSB clearly taking the lead with a 5 wins and one loss to FNC. Followed by NWS and C9 having 4-2. OMG with an even 3-3. FNC and LMQ at 2-4 and KBM with 1-5.

And with the stage events finally over and the teams filled, we can move onto the quarter finals. Having Samsung White faceoff against Team Solomid. Samsung Blue against Cloud9. Star Horn Royal Club against Edward Gaming. And NaJin White Shield up against OMG.

A lot are speculating that we’re going to see Samsung White and Samsung Blue battle each other at the Semi finals. But let’s not count out Team Solomid and Cloud9 just yet as we’ve witnessed how strange and miraculous things can happen anytime, anywhere. And let’s not forget Star Horn Royal Club down there, being a very strong contender for the championship this year.

With all these great teams up for the knockout quarterfinals, one can only speculate who will actually win this years championship. How about you guys? What are your thoughts on this insane lineup? Be sure to check back after each quarterfinal for an analysis of the match and follow us on Twitter.