League of Legends Worlds 2014 Group Stage 1 Roundup .

The much anticipated League of Legends World Championship 2014 started just last Friday and already there has been a lot of surprising things going on in and out of the games. With last years winner, SK Telecom T1, out of the picture, everyone questions the outcome of this years championship.

 

This years group event will be held at Taipei, Taiwan, and the city-state of Singapore. Each group has 4 teams, consisting of one team from Pool 1, two from Pool 2 and one from Pool 3. In addition, no two teams from the same region will be in the same group.

Pools are constructed based on the regional seedings which occurred last August till the first week of September. Pool 1 is known as the “protected” pool, it is because this is where the number 1 seeds from China, Europe, Korea and North America are in. Pool 2 will consist of teams from the same regions, ranked number 2 and 3, as well as the top two teams from the Garena GPL tournament. Lastly, Pool 3 will have teams ranked number 3 during the seed from North America and Europe with the addition of the International Wildcard tournaments.

Day 1

Day 1 of Worlds 2014 took place in Taiwan, SSW and SHR show their dominance being aggressive all throughout both games. An example of SSWs aggressive behavior is at the start their second and last game of the day, against AHQ, where they managed to completely wipe AHQ near their jungle area, losing just one of their members in the process in the first minute and a half. In the next 10 minutes, SSW manages to add 10 more kills to their scoreboard whilst AHQ only manages to get two. SSWs aggressive harass and push continue on till the end of the game, eventually finishing with a score of 34-12 in favor of SSW.

SHR, though not so aggressive in their first game with TPA as they were with TSM in the later game of the day, also manages to pull a double victory at day 1. SHR and TPA are both in a tense position as they harass back and forth in what seems to be a stalemate game till SHR goes for a successful Baron in which they make their way down middle lane, taking down tower after tower, wiping the entire TPA team just before going for the kill push which downs both nexus towers and the nexus itself. At their next game however, SHR goes in relentlessly against TSM, managing a 25-5 score in under 40 minutes.

Though, with the heavy 2nd game loss against SHR, TSM seems just as aggressive, if not more, than SSW and SHR. With their first game against SK Gaming, they manage to do a successful Baron attempt and proceed with an overall score 15-1. SK, disorganized and demoralized, concede soon after. Giving TSM their first win prior to their match against SHR.

Day 1 ended with SHR and SSW come out on top, both with 2 wins and no loses, followed by TSM and AHQ, having 1 win and 1 loss. EDG, DP, SK and TPA all suffer 0 wins and 1 loss.

Day 2

Day 2 started off with TPA vs SK, this would be give either team their first victory for the group event. A passive-aggressive match ensued from start to finish but TPA somehow manages to open SKs defenses and break through the middle and top lane though they were forced back by SK soon after. In an attempt to end the game, TPA forces theirs in through top lane killing off most of SK. As they go on down to the nexus, they are able to down both nexus towers. But in a surprising turn of events, a lone SK champion comes out of the pool and wipes the entire TPA team as they try to finish the game. However, glorious at it might be, the nexus is taken down by the super minions from middle and top lane just as SK goes in for the final blow giving TPA, their first victory.

EDG also managed to get their first victory at their first match of the day, against DP with a consistent safe approach just before doing a full on push at top tower all the way to the nexus.

SHR also adds another win to their score in their only match of the day against SK, giving them a 3-0 at this point in time. The game is close from the start till the near end until when SHR tries to do a push at middle lane, which turns out to be successful as they manage to take down two towers during the attempt. SHR regroups and does another push attempt, ending the game soon after.

Just like what TSM did in the first day, SSW mimics and perfects their third game, with a 15-0 match against DP wherein DP forfeits just short of their inner towers being taken out, giving SSW their third win.

SSW eager with their win concede against DP

In the game of TSM vs TPA, both teams go on the defensive but TSM seems to have the upper hand as TPA repeatedly over-reaches within their territory, resulting in several gank kills for TSM. Near the end of the game, TSM tries to do a push at bottom lane but are forced back. They regroup and soon after, they make another push, and this time they go all the way from tower to nexus, ending the game, 28-10 in favor of TSM which gives them a 2-1 standing in day 2.

EDG also managed to get their second victory, this time against AHQ. An aggressive game from start to finish, with EDG managing to score 28-10.

The standings so far at the end of day 2 are; SSW and SHR both 3-0, TSM and EDG at 2-1, TPA 1-2 and DP 0-3.

Day 3

Day 3 started with SSW against DP and this was the shortest game thus far with SSW managing to get a 20-2 lead in under 22 minutes. DP, having had enough, concede the game, giving SSW their fourth victory.

SHR does the same, managing a passive to aggressive 19-6 game and a Baron just before taking out bottom lane all the way to the nexus.

SSW takes their fourth victory in their match against AHQ. Being aggressive as always from the start of the game till the end, resulting in a 29 minute game with the score 38-11.

TSM started the game aggressively all throughout against TPA, managing a 19-4 score, taking down the nexus just under 27 minutes.

In the game EDG vs DP, it starts of equal, both teams each with 3 kills. As the game progresses, EDG starts pulling away more and more due to their aggressive play style, eventually having the game 26-6 just before the world tree is taken down, giving EDG another win to their score.

In the last game of the day, SK and TPA both try to secure an additional point for their team. Both teams vigorously going at it over and over again. In the end, SK wins it by continuously pushing down middle lane and as TPA slips up and are picked off one after another, SK takes advantage and presses on, taking down the nexus as the charge right through middle lane.

Day 4

Day 4 and the last day for group A and B, started with a rematch for TSM and SHR. At this point, everyone expects SHR to with their 5th straight win just like SSW. To everyone’s surprise though, the game stretches on to 45 minutes and SHR gets two barons down. TSM, however tower hug both times rendering the baron buff useless. And as soon as the second baron buff is gone, TSM counter pushes all the way at middle lane, taking down the inhibitor a total three times just before their final push which nearly wipes out SHR and gives them the nexus down.

AHQ on their second to the last game, against DP, manage an impressive 27-2. AHQ didn’t even touch the inner towers let alone the nexus, but DP had had enough and decided to concede, giving AHQ the win.

The last game for SHR and TPA wasn’t quite what we expected from both team. Though it would seem logical at the time. Both teams do their best to avoid conflict the entire match and focus on pushing. At mid game, SHR is on the lead with 9-5 up on the board and all 2nd towers down at this point, not to mention the middle lane and top lane gone and later on, a Baron kill to top it all off. Soon after, with the Baron buff up, they make the most of it pushing middle lane, wiping out TPA and taking down the nexus. Ending their games for the group, SHR 5-1 and TPA 1-5.

A number of exchange pushes takes place in the match of AHQ and EDG. Both teams solely focus on pushing lanes. Near the 40 minute mark, AHQ only has 5 kills while EDG has just two with the addition of Baron. EDG also manages to take the middle lane and almost the top lane. EDG tries to force top lane, losing three champions in the process but nearly losing the middle nexus tower. In a clash near Baron, 3 of EDG are taken out and AHQ remains untouched. AHQ then pushes middle lane all the way to the nexus, losing three champions along the way but they somehow manage to take out the nexus just before anymore are lost, giving AHQ an important win.

In what was thought to be an easy win for TSM, SK proves everyone otherwise as they go head to head with TSM the entire game. Both teams exchanging kills left and right, towers from all lanes start to fall one by one, and still, neither TSM nor SK backs down. As SK baits a Baron gank, their plan backfires right in front of them, losing three champions in the clash. Soon after, TSM tries to take down Baron but are interrupted by SK, nearly being wiped in the process. As SK continues Baron where TSM left off, they are interrupted by TSM. Not wanting to make the same mistake TSM did just a little while ago, SK backs off and no clash occurs. A little more into the game, as TSM picks off two random champions from the field, they track back and take down Baron. With the Baron buff, TSM makes their way at middle lane, coming short of breaking the third tower. In light of the situation, TSM makes a split push on all sides, SK tries to defend all three sides but middle is lost and an inhibitor falls in the process.

In an unprecedented move, TSM tries to force push middle lane and go straight to the nexus. To their surprise, SK is no where to be found as they push. TSM, thinking that they may be someone far or may have even given up hope, go forward with the push inside SKs base. It all looks over, but in a turn of events, it seems SK comes from behind, catching TSM off guard and nearly wiping the entire team without losing anyone. In an uproar, SK charges down middle lane, breaking the third tower, the inhibitor, both nexus towers and the nexus itself just before TSM could revive, giving SK the well deserved win this match.

In what was supposed to be the last game of the group, SSW consistently harasses EDG both in champion kills and in tower breaks, taking down both towers at the nexus point and a Baron kill just before 32 minutes. As SSW continues their push with the Baorn buff, they manage to eliminate EDG and take down the nexus just after 33 minutes, giving SSW a 6-0 standing in the end of the group games for A and B.

SK just moments before breaking TSMs nexus and hearts.

In a tiebreaker match between EDG and AHQ, that will decide which team will continue on to the quarter finals to face off against SHR. Both teams do their best and approach with caution while maximizing champion and tower damage. 20 minutes into the game, though it may look like EDG is at a disadvantage as AHQ leads the scoreboard 6-9, EDG is up at least 5k gold at this point, periodically taking down the dragon while defending. 34 minutes into the game, EDG is at a large lead, gold wise and kill wise. It’s only a matter of time till they capitalized and finish the game at this point. And soon after, just like clockwork, EDG pushes bottom lane. A clash bursts out as EDG pushes and both teams get 4 kills each, but the surviving EDG champion manages to take down the bottom tower and the middle and bottom inhibitor in the process just before backing out of AHQs base. EDG regroups and as soon as all champions are up, they mount an impressive charge at top lane, taking down the tower and the inhibitor, wiping AHQ off their base and continue on to winning the match right after.

AHQ taking their loss at the tiebreaker game between EDG very hard

The final standings of groups A and B are as follows, SSW 6-0, SHR 5-1, TSM 4-2, EDG 4-3, AHQ 3-4, SK 2-4 and TPA 1-5. SSW, SHR, TSM and EDG continue to the quarter finals while waiting for group C and D to start on Thursday.