SKT taken to three sets by Gen.G, but comes back to win the series. DAMWON Gaming moves into the top 5 of the LCK standings
Day 3 of the 2019 LCK spring split’s fourth week featured the first encounter of the year between SK Telecom T1 and Gen.G. The 2017 world champions won the first game of the series but ultimately fell to SKT and are now back in the drop zone. Gen.G sits ahead of Jin Air Green Wings, as the perennial relegation-tipped team has yet to win a series this split. JAG suffered yet another 2-0 defeat, this time at the hands of DAMWON Gaming. The LCK newcomers, on the other hand, now move into the top 5 and are back in the fight for a playoff spot.
GEN vs SKT
Game 1
Lee “CuVee” Seong-jin (Urgot) got Gen.G on the score first with a solo kill onto Kim “Khan” Dong-ha (Sylas). After winning a fight inside SKT’s side of the jungle, Gen.G opened the mid lane turret. With additional space around the map, GEN rotated to take down SK Telecom T1’s outer turrets.
Following a fight for a second Infernal drake, Gen.G secured three kills and added the buff, piling up four elemental drakes to build yet another victory condition. As the SKT players sitting on death timers, GEN also secured the Baron buff 33 minutes into the game. The powerplay opened the top and mid lane inhibitors. Gen.G found a good pick on Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (Corki), and turned the advantage into an ace. SKT’s Nexus went down soon after that as GEN opened the series’ score.
Game 2
The second match began with a bottom lane party following a gank by SKT jungler Kim “Clid” Tae-min (Lee Sin). Cho “Mata” Se-hyeong (Thresh) ultimately picked up the first blood on Gen.G’s AD carry Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (Ashe). Song “Fly” Yong-jun (Zoe) made it a one for one trade and took down Park “Teddy” Jin-seong (Kalista).
Making good use of its composition’s pickoff potential, SKT built a solid lead and also piled up five elemental buffs. With Faker (Le Blanc) posing as a threat capable of bursting down targets and both Mata and Clid having the ability to set up picks, Gen.G had no way of getting close to SKT’s players once they had grouped up. Even then, the three-time world champions still found three picks in a mid lane fight and went for the game, forcing the tiebreaker.
Game 3
SKT got off to a much better start this time as Faker (Zoe) and Khan (Sion) closed down CuVee (Urgot) on the river. The superstar mid laner picked up the kill for the first blood. The play turned the lane heavily into Khan’s favor, and with a three-men play SKT took the bonus gold for the first turret.
Gen.G clawed back with a solid transition into the mid game, evening the tower count. SKT broke the stalemate with a good fight in the mid lane. Khan started it off with a great Ultimate to flank Gen.G. Faker sniped Han “Peanut” Wang-ho (Zac) and also took down Kim “Life” Jeong-min (Braum). Up by two players and without a Smite on GEN’s side to contest, SK Telecom T1 went for Baron and secured the buff uncontested.
The powerplay left Gen.G’s base down to the inhibitor turrets. As the second Baron spawned, SKT threatened to start the objective, which forced Gen.G to contest. With a great teamfight, SKT secured four kills and decided to rush down the mid lane, closing out the game to complete the comeback and take the series.
JAG vs DWG
Game 1
Following a beautiful play by support Park “Nova” Chan-ho (Galio) in the mid lane, Jin Air picked up the first kill of the game. In a repeat of just about every JAG match this split, the relegation favorites had a solid start, taking down the first three turrets despite giving up three elemental buffs to DAMWON.
After taking down DWG’s Lee “Aries” Chae-hwan (Ezreal), who made his LCK debut, and support Ryu “Hoit” Ho-seong (Tahm Kench), Jin Air went for Baron and secured the buff, performing a good powerplay to leave DAWMON down to the inhibitor turrets.
JAG looked set for the win as the team set up for a second Baron. DWG spooted the attempt and managed to force Jin Air out of the pit. The objective did not reset however, and DAMWON took off from where JAG left to melt down the Baron’s health bar with the help from two Mountain buffs. Jin Air still managed to take down two members but did not manage to stop or steal the objective.
The buff allowed DWG to set its waves in all three lanes before adding the Elder dragon. With the help from the additional damage, DAMWON pushed in through the mid lane, melting down the towers along the way. After securing two more kills, DWG went for the game and had little trouble finishing things off with a double Mountain buffed by the Elder.
Game 2
DAMWON picked up the first blood in the bottom lane after a good engage by Hoit (Alistar). Jungler Son “Punch” Min-hyuk (Olaf) showed up to get the last hit and secure the kill. Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon (Aatrox) and Punch cleared the way for the first turret of the game in the top lane following two well-executed dives. DWG also added five elemental buffs on the bottom side.
After a fight inside JAG’s side of the jungle, DWG scored an ace with AD carry Sin “Nuclear” Jeong-hyeon (Ezreal) being the only loss on its side. After 30 minutes of play, DAMWON did not even need the Baron buff and went straight for the Nexus through the bottom lane, completing the sweep.
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