In the European region, final preparations are being made before the start of the main stage. Berlin is preparing to host the last day of the group stage, in which four teams will determine the two participants in the playoffs.
Vitality and SK Gaming will open the final stage. The match, as before, will be held in the bo3 format.
Vitality hit the desider after a great regular season but a rather hesitant group stage. In the first match of Stage 2, the “bees” won against Team Heretics, but then they lost against KOI, and by no means.
SK Gaming, which can be safely called the opening of the regular season, reached the group stage after a very solid performance in the qualifying stage. At Stage 2, the team first lost 0-2 to KOI and then sent Team Heretics home.
We figure out which of the pair will make up the KOI company in the playoffs, where they will continue to fight for the LEC Winter 2023 champion title, cash rewards, a slot at the LEC Finals and a ticket to the Mid-Season Invitational 2023.
Team Vitality uniform
We begin the analysis of the match with the analysis of Vitality's game form. They will be the favorite in this fight.
Bookmakers are favorable to Vitality. The chance of their success is estimated by a coefficient in the region of 1.4.
Vitality remain a formidable team in the eyes of bookmakers and there are explanations for this. They have a strong line-up, a good performance in the first stage, a famous tag. Is this enough to win? Absolutely not.
Team Vitality roster
With the start of the group stage, questions began to appear for the Vitality roster. As it continues, more questions arise.
Players
- Photon
- Bo
- Perkz
- neon
- Kaiser
In the match with KOI, Vitality was not on the server. The current champions of the LEC are the champions to show a high level of play, but after the regular stage, something more was expected from Vitality.
Team Vitality Performance
In the first week of LEC Winter 2023, the team made it clear that they were aiming for the championship. Team Vitality won all their matches:
- 1-0 victory over Fnatic
- 1-0 victory over Team Heretics
- Defeated MAD Lions 1-0
It is noteworthy that Bo stood out in all games. The Chinese school of the League of Legends does not pass without a trace, and therefore in all 3 matches he was recognized as MVP.
The next week brought Vitality's first disappointment of the season. And they stumbled where they did not expect it:
- 1-0 victory over Astralis
- Lost to SK Gaming 0-1
- 1-0 victory over G2 Esports
We have to give credit to SK Gaming. The team beat Vitality by default, which speaks of SK as a qualified performer.
The third week ended for Vitality with 2 wins and 1 loss. It was possible to close it dry, but so what:
- Lost against KOI with a score of 0-1
- 1-0 victory over Team BDS
- Victory over Excel with a score of 1-0
It is noteworthy that the most difficult game was the series against Excel. Zaruba in the last match of the LEC Winter 2023 regular season lasted 54 minutes and Excel almost made a bright tribute, but fell a little short.
In the first round of the group stage, Vitality played against Team Heretics. On the first map, it seemed that Vitality would close the Spanish club without a chance after 18-3, but already on the second map the situation was absolutely mirrored. The matchpoint ended with Vitality winning 18-16.
In the match against KOI, Vitality didn't get a chance. The duel ended with a score of 2-0 in favor of the former, and the best player of the match was Comp, who completely destroyed Neon and Kaiser on the bot lane.
Team Vitality Champions
The most frequent top lane guest is Jax (2 matches, 100% win rate). Also chosen were KSante, Gnar, Gwen and Ornn, Renekton and Gragas. Ornn and Renekton lost their matches, not quite falling into the season 13 meta.
Bo mainly played for Vi. One of the most meta characters of the season appeared in picks 4 times and won all his games. There were also Sejuani and Maokai (2 games each and 1 win each).
In the mid lane, Azir became a favorite character (3 matches, 100% wins). The Croatian also played Ryze, Syndra, Cassiopeia, Tristana, LeBlanc and Taliyah. Only Tristana and LeBlanc lost.
Of the shooters, Zeri (3 games, 66% wins), Ezreal (2 matches, 100% wins), Varus (2 games, 100% wins) appeared most often. Caitlyn and Sivir picked once each: the first one won its game, and the second one lost.
Of the support characters, they played three times with Yummi (3 games, 33% wins), Ashe (2 matches, 100% wins). Leona, Braum, Nami and Lux won once.
SK Gaming Uniform
We continue the analysis of the de-sider with the analysis of the game form of SK Gaming. They will play as an outsider in this match.
The bookmakers cannot believe in the success of SK Gaming. Their chance of winning is estimated by a coefficient in the region of 3.
For SK, the winter split can already be considered a success. The team was the discovery of the first stage, and the fact that they are here only adds weight to the first thesis about success in the LEC Winter.
SK Gaming roster
The German club cannot boast such a top line-up as Vitality has, but they do not need it. It turns out to play with anyone and this is far from a minus.
SK Gaming players
- relevant
- markoon
- Sertus
- Exakick
- Doss
SK Gaming, like any team of this caliber, relies on team training and the ability to play as one. In Bo3 matches, this approach works much weaker than in Bo1roulette, which we noticed in their match with KOI.
SK Gaming performance at LEC Winter 2023
SK Gaming started the championship as "dark horses" at best. The first week of games confirmed this status and, moreover, aggravated it:
- Lost to MAD Lions 0-1
- Lost to Team BDS 0-1
- 1-0 victory over Team Heretics
However, the victory in the final series of the week left a gap and gave hope for further success for SK. And not in vain.
Already in the second week, SK Gaming actually performed a miracle. The team beat 3 favorites in a row at once:
- 1-0 victory over G2 Esports
- Victory over Vitality with a score of 1-0
- Victory over KOI with a score of 1-0
A week that was supposed to be fatal for SK Gaming, but in fact brought them a pass to the group stage.
SK Gaming approached the final round of the regional games as a serious opponent and favorite in almost every match. In general, expectations were met, with the exception of a minimal miss in the match against Astralis:
- Lost to Astralis 0-1
- Victory over Excel with a score of 1-0
- 1-0 victory over Fnatic
The last game against Fnatic was especially symbolic. SK, who did not need anything, closed Fnatic, thus sending the "orange" to rest.
In the first match of the group stage, SK met KOI. The title club with the players who won at LEC Summer 2022 left no chance for the young SK formation.
The subsequent fight was remembered for a much more interesting outcome. SK Gaming defeated more experienced rivals from Team Heretics, and they did it in class.
SK Gaming Champions
The top picks from SK Gaming were Gnar (2 games, 1 win), KSante (1 game, 0 wins), Camile (1 game, 1 win), Sion (1 game, 1 win), Renekton (1 game, 1 win).
Sejuani and Eliza are honored in the forest. Both champions appeared twice and won both matches, but Vi and Kindred lost their games.
In the mid lane, Sertuss plays Sylas (2 matches, 50% win rate), Kassadin (1 time, 0 win rate), Azir, Syndra and Akali (1 game each and 100% win rate).
Of the shooters - Zeri. The character appeared 3 times and won 2 matches, and in addition Varus (who lost the only match), Sivir and Lucian were also picked.
On supports, Yummi, who managed to get fed up, broke into the Karma meta, as well as Renata Glasc and Lulu. Yummi won two matches out of 3, Karma lost the only game, and Renata Glasc and Lulu won.
History of personal confrontations
The teams have previously played each other during the regular season. Then SK sensationally beat Vitality, although they did it in Bo1.
Match outcome
In such a match, we should expect an equal fight. The names of the teams are very different, but taking into account the factor of winning back both clubs, it is clear that an easy walk for one of the parties should not work.
I'm leaning towards the option where SK take one card. They have already managed to do this during the regular season, and in the group stage, VItality do not look monolithic, because it seems that the German club will make itself known on at least one map.
Result: +1.5 on SK.
mCon esports Rotterdam
Once Upon A TeamWatch match
