Perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised at China’s recent success in international tournaments. Coming into the inaugural Rift Rivals event last year, the LPL was a +400 underdog to the beat out the LCK and the LMS. Although the four LPL teams were taken to five games by their LMS counterparts in the semifinals, they were able to make it to the Finals where they stunned the four LCK representatives to claim the first ever Rift Rivals Red tournament for China.
The LPL has continued to impress this year. Their 4-0 performance on Day 2 gave them a bye into the finals, leaving the LCK and the LMS to battle it out in the semifinals. The LCK are massive favorites to advance and square off with the LPL for regional supremacy on Sunday.
2018 League of Legends Rift Rivals Red Semifinals Betting Odds (Courtesy of BetDSI)
LCK -1250
LMS +584
The four LMS teams combined to go just 2-6 against the LCK and the LPL in the Group Stage, with Spring Split champions Flash Wolves responsible for both wins. Flash Wolves were awfully impressive in knocking off both Royal Never Give Up and Kingzone DragonX, with some fantastic performances from their key players.
SwordArt has been seen as the best Support in the LMS for years now, and he proved he is worthy of that title. He was phenomenal on both Rakan and Pyke in his team’s two matches, posting a 25 KDA combined on the two champions. His play, and that of Flash Wolves, gives the LMS a chance.
The problem is that another LMS team needs to pick up a win in order for the Flash Wolves to be able to take the Rift in a decisive Game 5. Machi Esports, G-Rex, and MAD Team have all been held winless at Rift Rivals Red, and none of the three teams have even come close to picking up a victory.
Korea’s strength has always been its depth. Even with the recent success of the LMS, most observers will tell you that the best league from top to bottom is the LCK. They will have plenty of confidence heading into their showdown with the LMS.
Surprisingly, the worst performing team from the LCK has been Kingzone. Kingzone dropped both of its matches, and although their two foes were the other regional winners, the way that they lost is a bit of a concern. They have tried, and failed, to run two funnel compositions with star jungler Peanut on Braun. That shouldn’t happen again given their poor results.
The other three representatives from the LCK have all played well though. KT Rolster is undefeated and looked impressive in its two victories, while Afreeca Freecs and SK Telecom T1 went 1-1. KT showed an ability to innovate that we haven’t always seen in the LCK, and that should bode well for them on Saturday. The play of SKT is encouraging too given the team’s poor play thus far in the Summer Split.
It’s a lot of juice to lay, but it’s really tough to see a way that the LCK drops more than one game here. Although Flash Wolves might be able to get a win, the other three teams are miles behind their LCK counterparts and all three will be massive underdogs.
