LEC 2023 Winter: Group Stage Week 1, Day 1

The top 8 teams started their clash on the LEC Groups Stage for the Winter 2023 split.

The top teams in Group A battled for the winner's bracket in a focused match-up that made fans roar.

After 3 weeks of intense non-stop action, the LEC began it's Groups stage for the Winter Split. The 8 remaining teams progress towards the Season Finals wherein the winner will become a contender for a spot at Worlds 2023. The best-of-three's (bo3s) play structure was also a new addition to this year's LEC format. Check out the standings of all 8 teams that made it to the Group Stage here!

The Group stage also started just in time for the LEC's 10th anniversary. Over 2,600 games played ever since it's inaugural match between SK Gaming and Fnatic.

Watch the LEC's epic Group Stage commencement video here!

The 2023 Winter Group Stage Draw

Group A

Vitality
SK Gaming
Heretics
KOI

Group B

MAD Lions
G2 Esports
Team BDS
Astralis

How are the rest of the Groups decided? Following the new 2023 format for the EMEA League, the winners for Game 1 & 2 will face off in an upper bracket match. The same will be done by the victors of the 3rd and fourth match. Afterwards, all the losing teams compete in lower-bracket bo3's. Those that win in the loser's bracket can climb their way back up for a spot in the Play-offs by defeating the losers from the upper bracket match-ups. With only 8 top teams remaining, expect top-tier plays as the strongest teams in the LEC duke it out on Summoner's Rift.

Team Vitality vs Team Heretics

Game 1

Neon's Ezreal stole the show in a spectacular first kill for the LEC's Group Stage. After Bo demonstrated total domination in the Jungle, Team Heretics were hard-pressed to gain any foothold. Their struggle to break the 3-kill advantage their enemies had 23 minutes in ultimately failed after they lost a crucial clash in bottom jungle. This snowballed into an unstoppable advance that gave Vitality the first win.

Teams: VIT 1 – 0 TH
Time: 38:09
Kills: 18 – 3
Turrets: 10 – 2
Gold: 55.6k – 41.6k
Dragons: 4 – 0
Barons: 1 – 0

Game 2

The second round was not so fortunate for Vitality. Fairly meta compositions from both sides had the Spanish team on the ropes for Game 1. Not much changed throughout the game as TH had total control on the map well into the midgame. With Photon and Bo getting outmatched in every turn, Jackspectra's Zeri just wiped out anyone that stood in his way until the game inevitably came to a close.

Teams: VIT 1 – 1 TH
Time: 26:27
Kills: 3 – 17
Turrets: 3 – 11
Gold: 41.9k – 55.1k
Dragons: 0 – 4
Barons: 1 – 0

LEC groups stage Credit: Riot Games

Game 3

A much closer game resulted in Vitality winning the first bo3. With Jackspectra's Zeri pick up against Bo's Kindred, all bets were off. With all things considered, Vitality managed to pull off a hard-won victory after a decisive teamfight down mid lane. Team Vitality will be moving on to the top bracket where they'll face the victor of the second bo3.

Teams: VIT 2 – 1 TH
Time: 39:40
Kills: 15 – 10
Turrets: 10 – 5
Gold: 75.0k – 69.3k
Dragons: 4 – 2
Barons: 2 – 1

SK Gaming vs KOI

Game 1

SK Gaming was prevented by Malrang's Sejuani from achieving any substantial objective lead. Thought-out engagements resulted in equal trades until we saw the late game. After taking the Baron and shifting the balance of the killscore, KOI drove through mid lane's defenses to take their first bo3. After some resistance, they were able to eke out a patient win in the battle for attrition.

Teams: SK 0 – 1 KOI
Time: 27:30
Kills: 4 – 12
Turrets: 11 – 1
Gold: 41.9K – 54.7K
Dragons: 1 – 3
Barons: 0 – 1

Game 2

Comp and Larsson's roams stacked kills high and led to KOI bagging the second game. As the late-game approached, the killcount just kept going up in favor of KOI. With the red team split pushing with Szygenda's hyper-carry Aatrox, SK couldn't do anything but watch as the game slowly ended.

Teams: SK 0 – 2 KOI
Time: 38:09
Kills: 7 – 22
Turrets: 2 – 9
Gold: 57.4k – 67K
Dragons: 1 – 4
Barons: 1 – 0