
LoL: Worlds 2020 | Group Stage Day Four Recap
| Tags: League of Legends
| Author David Hollingsworth

The final day of the first round-robin is upon us as we start to get an idea of what each team is about.
By the end of Day Four, we’ll have seen three games from each of the teams as we get ready to move into the second round-robin. Day Three saw NA finally pick up their first win, TES and Damwon assert their dominance and we started to get an early look at some of the tournament favorites. For Day Four, we start to see what the rest of the bunch are made of, as teams battle to get a spot in the knockout rounds.
Contents
G2 Esports vs Team Liquid
This was the game of the tournament for Team Liquid (“TL”). After a great Play-In stage, they’ve faltered in Groups and an upset against G2 was required. For G2, they would be looking to be the only Western side to go 3-0 in the early stages as they looked to show they’re a side to be feared. TL got the perfect start as they late invaded the G2 jungle to not only steal away the red buff but get a First Blood kill onto Jankos. TL took their early lead and started to fall into their usual map orientated style. With a 2k lead on the board at 12 minutes, the game slowed down as G2 looked to farm up. Critically, TL always kept up the pressure at this point.
Team Liquid keep Group Stage dreams alive
G2 get themselves on the board at the 17th minute as they pick up two kills in the mid lane. In addition, they translate that into a second Rift Herald pickup. TL maintained a 2k lead, though G2 now had a scent for blood. It’s a bloodbath in the bot lane as G2 chase down Impact with TL reengaging. They win a four-for-three overall as they secure the Soul point drake. Jensen becomes the standout carry for TL during this time and TL finds their win condition. With G2 chasing down TL on the top lane they fail to make the play as TL turned it around and down four members of G2 as they claimed an easy Baron with the Soul drake spawning in just a minute.
TL posture around the Soul drake as they picked it up easily. Jankos tried to get into the pit to steal it but he’s too late, with G2 engaging after him Perkz is stuck outside of the fight and TL picked up an easy bot lane inhibitor as they find themselves 8k ahead and in full control. G2 pushed to make the play to try and win the game but TL shut it down. They keep the dream alive for NA and themselves as they find a win to get revenge for MSI 2019.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 34:25
- Kills: 11-24
- Turrets: 3-10
- Gold: 57.3k – 66.3k
- Dragons: 0-4
- Barons: 0-1
Suning vs Machi Esports
After an upset loss by G2 to TL, Group A became just a little more open. With Suning (“SN”) and Machi (“MCX”) both on 1-1 records having beaten TL thus far, their head-to-head series would see them break away from the pack. Suning will be looking to maintain momentum from their victory against TL. Meanwhile, MCX wanted to cause yet another upset as they look to make a surprise appearance at the Knockout stage. MCX got off to the dream start as they made a play top side and picked up an important kill onto Gemini. While MCX took a strong early lead, SN came back fighting and by the 10th minute had brought the gold lead back to evens.
Suning rise to the top of Group A
While MCX took their second drake and moved closer to the soul point, SN continued to apply the squeeze as they moved to a 3k lead as they dropped the Rift Herald into the mid lane. MCX does grab yet another pick kill, as they try to stay alive in the series. MCX posture around the Baron buff as they tried to make a game-winning play. SN is there to stop it as they kill off three members of MCX for one in return. MCX moved to try and stop the Baron but they pull out as SN claimed a 24 minute Baron and find a win condition. MCX continued to hold off the SN advances after they failed to make a game-winning play with the Baron.
With Baron number two spawning on the map, they tried again. MCX made a pick onto Bin, who found himself exposed in the bot lane as SN pulled away from Baron. MCX picked up the soul point drake with SN claiming the Baron. With MCX trying to win the game off the back of the Baron claim SN is able to ace them outside the pit as SN goes 2-1 and joins G2 at the top of the group.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 33:26
- Kills: 14-9
- Turrets: 9-2
- Gold: 65.6k – 53.6k
- Dragons: 2-3
- Barons: 2-0
DRX vs FlyQuest
With NA starting Day Four with a huge upset win over G2, FlyQuest (“FLY”) would be looking to spring a major upset as they tried to take down DRX. As for DRX, they wanted to get a clean win over FlyQuest as they look to put their loss to TES behind them. FLY got off to the perfect start as they picked up the First Blood for Santorin in the bot lane. While FLY did manage to get two early kills, DRX was able to get a gold lead as they looked to pinch the second drake. However, Pyosik makes a huge misplay with his ultimate which leaves him exposed on the drake, so he got sniped and FLY easily took the drake.
DRX swat FLY to secure the second spot
FLY pulled the trigger on a big play at Herald as they looked to move into a gold lead. But IgNar threw the fight as three members dropped as a result of the play. As a result, DRX moved even further ahead. As DRX moved in to secure the fourth drake to stop the FLY Soul, they closed out FLY, limiting the entry points and ace the NA hopefuls. DRX secured the drake and the Baron as they looked to close out the game. As DRX is caught sleeping on the back end of the Baron fight FLY are able to secure a small consolation kill.
DRX used the Baron buff to push into the FLY base, where they sniped out PowerOfEvil at the start of the fight. After that, they swept FLY aside and secured a dominant victory as they went 2-1 after the first week of matches.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 29:55
- Kills: 13-6
- Turrets: 11-2
- Gold: 59.7k – 46.1k
- Dragons: 1-3
- Barons: 1-0
Top Esports vs Unicorns of Love
The final match in Group D saw the LPL's first seed TES face the underdogs of Unicorns of Love (“UOL”). After a dominant Play-ins, UOL hasn’t quite been able to translate the success into Group Stage and a victory against TES would certainly be a way to do it. TES on the other hand was looking to sweep UOL aside to secure top spot in the group after just three games. UOL is able to pick up the First Blood, with Lee Sin ganking top lane for UOL and secure a big start. It doesn’t last long, however, as TES struck back with vital plays across the map to secure a lead.
TES show no love for the Unicorns
TES continued to build on the early lead by ganking the UOL top lane tower. They picked up two kills and dropped down the Rift Herald as TES moved 3k ahead. Honestly, they outplayed UOL all over the map. It goes from bad to worse for UOL and 369 is able to pick up even more kills while TES picked up a tier two turret with their lead ballooning to over 5k. UOL attempted to keep their game alive but TES Ace them as the true scope of the game in the gold lead is laid onto the table. TES took an uncontested Baron onto all five members as they looked to play to the Baron win condition.
TES secured an uncontested second Baron as they picked up a kill on the back end of the play and pushed down the mid lane. UOL was simply unable to contest with the LPL team who was too good for the CIS side. As a result, TES took a comfortable 3-0 record in the first round-robin of the Group Stage.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 32:30
- Kills: 28-15
- Turrets: 11-1
- Gold: 66.7k – 53.1k
- Dragons: 3-1
- Barons: 2-0
Fnatic vs Gen.G
With a 1-1 record thus far, Fnatic found themselves in a position they probably didn't want going into the series against Gen.G. With a win unlikely, a win was what Fnatic needed with TSM v LGD playing after them. An LGD win would give Fnatic everything to do in the second round-robin. As for Gen.G, they wanted to go 3-0 and move themselves well ahead of the chasing pack going into the second phase. In what might be a surprise start, FNC was able to punish a flashless Rakan and pick up the First Blood. FNC doesn’t stop there, however, as they again punish the flashless Rakan and get another three kills. Gen.G dropped two TPs on the fight and picked up two kills in return but at a huge cost.
Fnatic take down Gen.G in a flash
FNC continued to punish the early game mistakes of Gen.G. As we hit the 10-minute mark FNC found themselves with a 3k lead as they looked to snowball early leads into mid game pressure. Gen.G, however, pounced onto the FNC bot lane, committing two TPs to secure two massive kills as they attempted to get some presence into the match. Things finally started to calm down at the 21st minute as the third drake spawns. Both teams started to posture around it but in the end, it’s FNC that claimed it for free.
With the third drake spawning on the map, FNC picked it up but got chased from the jungle in the mid lane. They turned the fight on its head despite losing it early on and they managed to Ace Gen.G. Seeing their opportunity, they pushed down the Gen.G base and picked up a massive victory as they go joint top.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 27:47
- Kills: 17 – 9
- Turrets: 7-3
- Gold: 54.2k – 48k
- Dragons: 3-1
- Barons: 0-0
TSM vs LGD Gaming
The final game of the day saw TSM needing a win to keep their Worlds dream alive. After losing to Fnatic and Gen.G, it was critical that TSM pick up a win against LGD. LGD on the other hand could go joint top with Fnatic and Gen.G with a win over TSM. This would cut the group down to a three-horse race going into Week Two. It wasn’t the early game TSM needed as Doublelift is caught out in the bot lane and LGD is able to punish. While TSM tried to stay in the game with a good gank in the bot lane, LGD kept their 2k lead into the mid game period as they started to put the pressure onto the NA roster.
LGD dash TSM's hopes
It went from bad to worse for TSM as LGD took all of the outer turrets at the 16-minute mark. They also claimed a drake, removing the hope TSM had of an early Soul. At 22 minutes LGD found a resounding team fight victory as they take out four members of TSM losing just one in return. They claimed the third drake and drop of Rift Herald mid to compound the issues facing the NA roster. TSM tried to be proactive but Doublelift was caught out and the game continued to get away from them. LGD took the next Soul point drake uncontested.
The Soul point spawns and TSM stopped LGD from taking it but in return loses four members in return. They’re able to take down two members but lose a mid lane inhibitor as their base is left nearly exposed. LGD started up the Baron with TSM hovering over them, but LGD turned off the Baron and took the fight. Despite Bjergsen getting a huge early kill, LGD is relentless in their pursuit of the game victory. They Ace TSM and march into the base.
Quick Stats:
- Time: 36:50
- Kills: 10-21
- Turrets: 3-7
- Gold: 59.2k – 67.9k
- Dragons: 2-3
- Barons: 0-0