LCS: Championship Preview. Eight teams will battle it out for the title and Worlds

The US LCS will begin its playoff phase tomorrow, which is a bit different from the traditional format, as the Summer Playoffs are also a qualifier for Worlds.

The specific format of the LCS Summer Split gives fans an interesting spectacle. Instead of the traditional top six, as we are used to from the spring season, the playoffs expand to eight teams. Unlike other major leagues, the league ignores the so-called Championship points – i.e. rankings based on the season’s standings.

It is this change that makes the summer playoffs, or Championship, a delicate affair. On the one hand, the system is meant to take into account the long-term form of teams, but it also gives room for the less fortunate to fight back and possibly surprise. In other words, even a team that has dominated for a long time can suddenly fail fatally.

Although the paper assumptions may speak clearly – at least two teams can be said to be absolutely certain, one thing will be missing in the Championship.

That is the sensational non-participation of FlyQuest, who failed in the summer split and drew the shortest straw. Their non-participation is all the more fatal, as eight teams out of ten will advance to the playoffs. So, like Vitality in Europe, the American team will only watch the battle of the best teams on the planet from home.

But that doesn’t mean the playoffs can’t offer drama and interesting moments. Below, we take a look at the teams that may have a say in the title and Worlds battles.

Will Cloud9 and Golden Guardians confirm their position from the spring?

Let’s start nice from the top. It’s no big surprise that Cloud9 dominated the regular season of the Summer Split. They can count on stability and general stability to advance after quality performances worthy of the champions of the American region. Few probably expected Cloud9 to allow any performance fluctuations.

With the Golden Guardians, there was some debate before the summer as to whether this team just had a sort of phase at the end of the split and MSI. However, the team carried their solid form into the summer and gradually improved their performance. The Guardians certainly surprised many experts once again and quietly fitted into the role of a favorite for the title.

While Cloud9 can rely on a roster with a lot of experience from international tournaments, the Golden Guardians’ combination of veterans and up-and-coming talents was top-notch.

After years of struggling with performance, Stixxay has finally matured into a very capable player who plays more deliberately and doesn’t rush into any wild actions. Together with his teammate Huhi, they have formed a strong shoeline that can take responsibility. River and Gori are able to challenge their competitors while adding something extra.

In general, both teams shouldn’t have much trouble advancing to Worlds. In particular, the possible non-participation of the most historically successful American representative at the Worlds would be a major sensation.

In addition, both teams have the advantage of a later entry into the playoffs, so they can better prepare for their opponents.

Will Team Liquid carry their performance renaissance all the way to promotion?

Another team that will be in the spotlight is Team Liquid. A team that, like FlyQuest, bet heavily on the Korean note remained well behind expectations in the spring split.

With more humility and a better attitude, the ambitious team went into the summer split knowing they would correct their mistakes. The progress so far tells us a lot that the team has found its right path. Despite the occasional stumble, however, Liquid was able to walk into the elite four in the regular season.

What this team will have to watch out for is not letting themselves be unnecessarily provoked into making mistakes. Team morale also relies heavily on Pyosik, who, when he has a day, can destroy everything in his path. However, a player who is known to be very emotional needs some calm and especially the support of his teammates.

The recent change at mid will also be crucial for Liquid, with Haeri’s performance dropping. In his place, he has moved from the academy – APA, who is gaining experience very quickly. Still, the team’s still-benjamin can be a weakness for Liquid that can shake up their Worlds ambitions a lot.

Spring remedy and ideally at Worlds, sounds from the Evil Geniuses camp

Like Team Liquid, the third unit of the regular season is experiencing something of a performance renaissance. A lackluster spring has been replaced by a very promising summer where the team has ironed out many unnecessary kinks.

The tarnished reputation of an organization that has had significant problems within its ranks will thus attempt to qualify for Worlds once again while surprising its competitors in the title fight.

Consistency and good base reading are the keys for the Geniuses to make this offense succeed. But they definitely have to account for competition that could disrupt their bold plans. Whether it be Cloud9, Golden Guardians or Team Liquid.

America will surely send its top three to Worlds. The fourth least successful will face a battle with their European counterparts for an additional Worlds spot and regional pride. It is this duel that could be very tricky for the American challenger.

TSM’s last split in America. Will there be a big celebration at the end?

The famous American TSM organization has one last stretch before its planned move. Although it is not yet known where the organization will operate from next year, the team is once again proudly claiming the top ranks after the splits of the results.

TSM surprised with steady play during the summer, though it had some cracks at times. This is in contrast to FlyQuest, for example, which was not properly able to solve its problems for the entire split. The traditional LCS team has also had to deal with some inconsistency from their players at times.

Whether TSM will be able to have recent success on American soil remains to be seen. However, if it plays steady and gives its all, it could be that fourth joker for the World Qualifier against its European counterpart.

Source: LCS, Leaguepedia, Kaza LoL