LoL: Worlds 2020 | Group Stage Day Five Recap (Group A)

We head into the final four days of Group Stage, with Group A getting us underway in the second round-robin.

The first Group of the second round-robin comes in the hotly contested Group A. With any team still able to qualify it’s set to be one of the most exciting contests of the week. With G2 taking an upset loss to Team Liquid, they’ve given themselves a tricky day. Suning and Machi take to the Rift second and their result will give us a clear indication of who’s most likely to head through.

Team Liquid v G2 Esports

The first match of the day was one of the spiciest. A Team Liquid win would they have the 2-0 over G2 in the head-to-head, however, a G2 victory here would almost certainly condemn Team Liquid. G2 was able to get off to the best possible start by picking up First Blood on the top side of the map. Team Liquid was able to get something back when they picked up a kill on the bot side, though Jankos was able to pick up a kill in return as G2 he made his appearance there. But G2 ganked bot side again and this time they picked up a double kill as they moved 2k ahead.

G2 continued to up the pressure as they picked up yet another two kills on the bot side of the map. As a result, they also managed to pick up 11 turret plates as they moved 5k ahead. TL made a push into the mid lane to catch a retreating G2 but it went horribly wrong as Broxah charged in and lost his life in an instant. TL dropped two more members and broke the mid lane as they went 8k ahead. With nothing else to do, G2 decided that they might as well pick up the Baron buff. TL sniffs it out and took down Jankos early in the fight but G2 was just too far ahead as they Ace TL and push into the base.

G2 took down two inhibitors with TL respawning when another fight took place at the Baron. This time G2 took down four and ended the game. They moved to 3-1 in the group as TL had it all to do with their remaining games in Group A.

Quick Stats:

• Time: 29:08
• Kills: 4-19
• Turrets: 0-9
• Gold: 41.7k – 57.3k
• Dragons: 1-2
• Barons: 0-0

Machi Esports vs Suning

It was all on the line for Machi (“MCX”) going into the series against Suning Gaming (“SN”). Being 1-2, they would need to beat SN to gain a 1-1 head-to-head against them for the inevitable tiebreaker at the end of the day. As for SN, with TL picking up a first game loss, a victory here should set them up for a first-place battle against G2 later in the day. SN get off to a fantastic start with a top lane 1v1 going the way of Bin. As a result, the top lane looks all but over in the early stages of the game.

Despite an early loss, MCX is able to pick up two clean kills in reply as they refuse to lay down and die in the series. SN had other ideas, however. They picked up more kills and more map pressure to take them to a 3k lead at the 15-minute mark as they slowly applied the squeeze to MCX. They pushed through mid to pick up a big fight with MCX. Despite losing a member early on, SN did come out ahead. They picked up two kills at the end of the fight, a mid tier two, and claimed the third drake too. SN took another fight in the top side river and this time they picked up a delayed Ace. The squad picked up a free Baron buff for their trouble.

With the Baron buff in hand, SN charged the MCX base, picked up the Ace as they walked through the base. The victory saw SN move to 3-1, joint first with G2 who they’ll play later today to decide the first spot.

Quick Stats:

• Time: 27:54
• Kills: 6-22
• Turrets: 0-9
• Gold: 40.7k – 57.1k
• Dragons: 0-3
• Barons: 0-1

G2 Esports vs Machi Esports

With SN picking up the win against Machi in the previous game, the pressure was on G2 to match them and move to 4-1. This would set up a top spot decider against Suning Gaming later in the day. As for Machi, they would require victory against G2 to keep their Worlds dream alive, defeat here would see them heading home. First Blood goes over to G2 as they dove onto Mission between his mid tier 2 & 1 tower. After picking up the first drake, MCX was able to pick up the second as they pressured the map. But suddenly a misplay from Mikyx saw him drop, while Jankos also died at the start of the fight.

A wonderful G2 display

After the earlier misplay, G2 maintained their dominance on the map shortly after, picking up the second Rift Herald, a mid lane tier one, and a kill on the top side. MCX were able to pick up a kill onto Wunder in return, as the soul point drake was about to spawn. MCX does manage to pick up the soul point drake, with the following fight going two-for-two as MCX picked up a crucial win condition. G2 was able to pick up the fourth drake, stalling out MCX’s plans to gain an early soul drake. While MCX remained close in the fight, G2 pulled the trigger out of nowhere to pick up three kills and claim a free Baron buff.

MCX wins a fight three-for-two before the drake spawns, however, low HP bars force them away as Jankos is able to claim it. MCX moved towards the pit to try to stop it but they lost three more members in the over-extension as MCX ran out of ideas. G2 took down the inhibitors and ran down the nexus as they ended the game. With this, G2 locked in a spot in the Quarterfinals as the result meant Machi is out.

Quick Stats:

• Time: 30:16
• Kills: 17-9
• Turrets: 9-0
• Gold: 59.9k – 47.5k
• Dragons: 2-3
• Barons: 1-0

Suning vs Team Liquid

This was crucial game for Team Liquid. Victory here would keep their dreams of Worlds Knockout Stage qualification alive. Defeat, would, however, see them heading home. SN needed to win against TL to keep up the pressure on G2, whom they would face in the final game of the day to decide the first spot if they beat TL here. It was the dream start of TL who invaded the SN jungle and claimed a massive First Blood. They steal away the red buff picking up another two kills but on the retreat, they lose just the one member in return as they move 1k ahead early with the lanes in disarray.

A Tactical victory keeps NA dreams alive

SN start a fight in the TL top jungle, while they get the early lead in the fight Tactical and CoreJJ joined late and turn it massively in favor of TL as they bring the gold lead to a neutral point. TL found yet another big play as the game ticks over to the 25th minute. A team fight breaks out and they keep all five members alive, dropping two from SN in return. They posture towards the Baron and secure it, killing two members of SN to boot. As they retreat back to their base they lose one but finally wipe SN inside the jungle as TL moved 5k ahead.

With the buff, they take the mid lane inhibitor and a free kill for their troubles. TL made a game-ending play on the bot side getting two early kills onto key members. They then pulled away, picking up yet another inhibitor as they try to end. Bin Teleports behind them, so TL pulled back but quickly re-engage when it looked like they’d left the base. TL manages to Ace SN and get themselves to 2-3 to keep their Worlds dreams alive

Quick Stats:

• Time: 32:28
• Kills: 7-23
• Turrets: 3-9
• Gold: 55.4k – 64.5k
• Dragons: 2-3
• Barons: 0-1

Team Liquid vs Machi Esports

With Machi unable to qualify, TL had it all to play for as they took on the PCS side. A TL victory would mean they were just a G2 victory against SN away from a tiebreaker against SN themselves to make Worlds Knockouts. TL started the game as they did against SN by picking up a huge level one First Blood. TL continued to dominate the early game off the back of that First Blood. They continued to pick up more and more kills and moved 2.5k ahead.

Thank you very Machi

TL just don’t let up. Despite MCX doing all they can to stay in the game, it seemed to be escaping them more and more by the minute. At just 13 minutes into the game, TL sat at a near 10k lead with MCX having no options on the map. TL again pulled the trigger on a play, taking down three members of MCX before dropping the Rift Herald top side.

TL slowly pushed through the open mid lane of MCX, again dropping two more members as they retreated out the base. MCX claimed a big kill on the tail end as TL dropped three members as they overextended the fight. TL started the Baron but ended up moving away from that objective. It simply wasn’t needed as they found a fight in the mid lane which saw them push down the mid inhibitor and take down the last remaining member of MCX and win the game. To qualify for the Knockout Stage, they’ll either need a G2 victory against SN and to SN themselves in a tiebreaker.

Quick Stats:

• Time:28:30
• Kills: 22-6
• Turrets: 10-1
• Gold: 58k – 44.1k
• Dragons: 2-1
• Barons: 0-0

Suning vs G2 Esports

The game that decides the fate of three teams. A G2 win sends them through as first seed and gives us a seventh match of the day, with Team Liquid taking on Suning in a tiebreaker. A G2 loss, however, would see Team Liquid heading home with a G2 v Suning rematch deciding top seed.

First Blood goes over SN who countered a G2 gank with a TP into the bot lane. The extended fight sees it continued in the pit with the drake getting involved. Wunder TPs in and helps G2 to secure a kill with the extended fight seeing SN take a 700g lead.

G2 melt under the pressure as Liquid head home

While TL managed to get a decent fight on the bot side, as Perkz and Mikyx re-commit to it they get caught out. Because of this, G2 loses three members when they try to take down the bot lane tier one tower. SN continued to ramp up the pressure on G2, and keep TL fans sweating as they kept punishing the G2 disadvantage. G2 found a massive engagement, however, picking up a kill onto Bin and chasing down SwordArt and claiming an important drake for their trouble. SN took down three members of G2 inside their base and with that, they ended the game.

With that victory, G2 and SN will set up for a tiebreaker for the first seed out of the group with both teams now qualifying. The result, sadly, knocks Team Liquid out of Worlds 2020 as the third seed from NA heads home.

Quick Stats:

• Time: 23:04
• Kills: 17-4
• Turrets: 9-2
• Gold: 45.5k – 38.8k
• Dragons: 1-1
• Barons: 0-0

G2 Esports vs Suning First Place Tiebreaker

After going 1-1 in the Group Stage, G2 and SN go head-to-head again to decide first place out of groups. SN could have easily gone 2-0 against G2 in the Group Stage, despite a clutch comeback from G2 in the late game. G2 is able to pick up the first blood, making up for a slight misplay at level one which saw Perkz lose his flash. SN did manage to claim a kill as sofM entered the fight. The game began to slow down slightly at the 13th minute, despite a one-for-one trade in the bottom river, both teams have moved to focus on CS and tower pressure. At that point, SN had a 1k lead.

A fight did start at the Rift Herald, however, as SN claimed the Herald and claimed two kills in return as G2 picked up just the one. The Rift Herald instantly goes top side as Caps also falls as SN breaks the game wide open. G2 just about managed to find the big counterplay after Caps was taken down in the mid lane. While they end up going two-for-two in the long fight, some good outplay sees them keep themselves alive in the game, taking a second drake for their trouble. Though just like that G2 again lost Caps as SN moved to quickly claim the Baron buff, catching G2 out after they reset after the drake. SN again picked up vital kills onto G2 members and picked up yet another Baron buff as G2 looked to have run out of options.

Suning rise to the top spot

SN looked to end the game after sofM was taken down outside the base, SN took down Caps and Mikyx early but G2 managed to hold on despite losing a number of members and having their base opened. G2 is able to get Soul point, with SN looking to end it before then. SN took an uncontested third Baron, with G2 again looking like they were playing around a possible soul. SN denied the soul point, however, they lost two members as a result and while they have a 5k lead, it has no impact now as we go deep into the late game.

The fight happens, both teams trade two-for-two early as the low health bars meant everyone pulls away. G2 kept their mid laner alive, however, meaning they have the more deadly 3v3. SN is able to pick up the fourth Baron of the game with G2 taking the drake soul but SN caught them out of position and SN managed to take them down. One massive barrel combo for Bin and he downed three members of G2 in one hit. The LPL third takes down the LEC first seed as they go top of Group A.

Quick Stats:

• Time:44:05
• Kills: 17-4
• Turrets: 9-3
• Gold: 45.5k – 38.8k
• Dragons: 3-4
• Barons: 4-0