Azubu Blaze 2:0 CLG EUDRAFT DETAILS AND TEAMS HISTORY
Blaze Roster
Shy (Top)
Helios (Jungle)
LustBoy (Support)
Ambition (AP)
Cpt Jack (AD)CLG EU roster
Wickd (Top)
Snoopeh (Jungle)
Jree (Support)
Froggen (AP)
Yellowpete (AD)
Game 1
CLG bansAZB bans
CLG picksAZB picks
The first match kicks off with the nonstop traveling team keeping even pace with Azubu Blaze. Things go smoothly, but Blaze definitely shows their mechanical prowess by consistently outfarming CLG EU. Excitingly for the spectators, Froggen also decides to pull off "Da mid Lead Singah" this game, to kick some Azubu in the ass.
The game goes back and forth a bit, but what we see erupting is an incredibly strong and fresh Blaze that was not foreseen coming today. They pulled a complete 180 and eventually just trashed CLG.EU. The worst part is CLG.EU was playing well, but frighteningly enough, Blaze were just playing that much better! CLG.EU goes down 1-0, showing a much more bleak performance than Dignitas fighting this team.
Game 2
AZB bansCLG bans
AZB picksCLG picks
The second game initiates as a complete shutout, with things looking quite grim for our European brethren. Blaze take a unique approach and take everything low economy by grouping up and really pressing for those objectives, forsaking individual farm by adequately substituting it for quick aura items and a steadfast grouping pressure.
The game trucks along and CLG.EU holds out for that signature stall into the comeback, but even on a flawless pull onto Cpt Jack of Azubu Blaze on top of inhibitor tower leaving him helplessly vulnerable, but it's just not enough and Azubu Takes out Counter Logic Gaming in a 2-0 Clean sweep. Better luck time for the European team, as they had the floor wiped with their faces in this unbelievably convincing shutout.
Azubu Blaze 4:1 NaJin SwordDRAFT DETAILS AND TEAMS HISTORY
Blaze Roster
Shy (Top)
Helios (Jungle)
LustBoy (Support)
Ambition (AP)
Cpt Jack (AD)NaJin Sword Roster
[ Maknoon (Top)
Watch (Jungle)
Cain (Support)
Ssong (AP)
Pray (AD)
Set 1 Game 1
NJS BansAZB bans
NJS picksAZB picks
The time has come and the first game between the Korean powerhouses has commenced. Never a dull moment throughout the entire series, the game begins with Azubu rolling AD and support mid trying to bring it stronger than they have shown at any other point during the tournament. Everyone's favorite hero from NaJin Sword starring in "The Maknoon Show" ends up falling way behind to his demise. Even with the assistance of Watch, it's just not quite adequate enough.
NaJin Sword kicks off the series with their signature superb aggression and diving tactics taking the kill lead to boot, but Azubu remains ahead in gold due to superior farming and substantial objective control. Did I mention farmed? The Olaf ends up needing an entire team to take him down under turret, getting massive amounts of HP breaking 3000 before even then 20 minute mark.
Azubu Blaze heeds the gold and item advantage the entire game, but if you were watching about a scoreboard no one could tell as NaJin Sword did amazing things even though behind. Eventually Azubu gets a very well calculated ace on NaJin Sword at baron, barely surviving and takes everyone in the audience by shock taking game one.
Set 1 Game 2
AZB BansNJS bans
AZB picksNJS picks
Wasting no time and prepping up for the victory each team deserves, Game 2 starts off chaotic as ever. NaJin Sword's day is looking a little brighter as they initiate the lead with SSong grabbing the blue steal. Things weren't sunshine and rainbows for long, as Ssong ends up getting killed and the fresh blue buff goes straight to Ambition, throwing any lead he started with in that middle lane.
Azubu hesitant to lose their momentum this game, they still fight hard. NaJin Sword has other thoughts and gets kills top and bottom, each with no assistance from the jungler. Continuing their mark of dominance, Shy proceeds to get camped to hell and back, feeding 3-0 and getting Maknoon very, very big. A big Maknoon is a scary Maknoon.
NaJin stays significantly in the lead this game and not just through Maknoon, but Ambition as well, duking it out with him for that beloved MvP spot on the team. NaJin Sword wastes no time with their lead and picks up a baron in the late game, being convincingly ahead enough that Maknoon's Jax even ends up picking up a Nashor's Tooth! NaJin Sword is so rich this game that even the support is getting more gold than the entirety of Azubu Blaze.
Azubu wasn't ready to give up their momentum, though, and does a good job at stalling, taking heed to the advantage of NaJin's greed to end early and winning a fight with a 4 for 3 trade, taking 2 towers and a blue buff off of it. Unfortunately, the lead proves too much for Azubu Blaze too endure, bringing the game to a nail-biting, potentially game point game 3.
Set 1 Game 3
AZB BansNJS bans
AZB picksNJS picks
With the potential of Game 3 being game point and everything on the line, even the most trained of teams would have nerves effecting their play. Azubu Blaze is stubborn to go out in one measly set here, and the power of First Blood prefails, starting Shy ahead on Irelia with a kill advantage, abusing it again to start his lane out 2-0.
NaJin Sword has will beyond this, however, and knows that this trophy belongs to them. Without hesitation, NaJin Sword catches back up and evens the score to 3-3. Though Shy is far ahead at this point, the rest of the team is even and he doesn't realize this fact. NJS is quick to punish his solitude and takes 2 of Blaze's turrets for, essentially, free.
Not letting the lead get to them either, Azubu abuses their Korean nerves of steel to optimize their play and fully catch back up. They need to be careful with their confidence and vigor though, as they slip up around the 33 minute mark, getting two members caught off.
The Fields of Justice are tense and the game is remarkably close, with an unbelievable 55.1k to 55.1k gold tie at 38 minutes! Not very often do we see a 50-100 variance in gold in these long matches, but all good things must come to an end and Azubu Blaze pulls ahead, dragging this out to a second set of games.
Set 2 Game 1
AZB BansNJS bans
AZB picksNJS picks
In Game 4, everything's reset and the series goes back to 0-0 as if nothing happened before, and both teams must play at a championship level after much fatigue. The game starts positively for NaJin Sword who pulls off a nice smite steal on their blue which was being contested and grabbing first blood on their AD Carry.
We've seen some unconventional games, but this one almost turns out as a legitimate ARAM, if you will. We see pressure go deep on middle with 4 people perpetually pushing and tunneling onto the outer middle tower.
The action and desperation for the sweet title of 1st pace in the players' blood runs rampant through their veins and the movement across the lanes is just phenomenal, marking one of those most action packed games League of Legends has had the blessing of being broadcasted. Fights erupt and evaporate everywhere, creating a complete deathmatch and intricate blood bath.
With the game in complete chaos, Shy plays his own game, doing work on his own while NaJin does work eslewhere, impactful plays being developed by both sides. The Korean powerhouses are fighting evenly, full of legendary bouts and skirmishes, packed with immense action.
The game remains unbelievably close, with less than 100(!) gold difference at the forty-five minute mark! This game had potential to go on for well over an hour, but at this point the spawn times are long and unforgiving, making the 2-man pickoff that NaJin Sword had suffered cost them a game in a full-out game ending push to the Nexus.
Set 2 Game 2
NJS BansAZB bans
NJS picksAZB picks
The final game is about to commence. The tension is high,the fatigue is throbbing in the players, but their hearts are in it for the victory. NaJin Sword absolutely crushed Azubu Blaze just a day before, so they have to recollect themselves and find out what they correctly accomplished the day prior and emulate those results today before they exit the tournament in an embarassing 4 loss streak.
The final and meaningful finale launches with another 2 man mid with a strategy of hastened tower aggression. Although participating in the highest echelons of play, you can see a bit of sloppy and fatigued play take off as kills are immediately.
NaJin's strategy has been discussed and they've identified a huge issue being the initiation of fights and the presence of that jungle Cho'Gath. With that banned out, things can't possibly go out of hand and strip them of their trophy like it did in the games prior.
...Or so they thought. In a daunting and grim reality-check for them, Azubu Blaze runs a mean Nocturne. Helios absolutely blows everyone away with his splendid performance, going 5-1-1 just after the ten minute mark. At this point, he actually withholds more gold than anyone in the entire game, a rare feat as a jungler in a high-calibre tournament scenario.
Helios isn't the only knight in shining armor showcasing himself as a hero in the match though, as Cpt Jack gets extremely frightening on his Tristana pick. With a Tristana getting hilariously fed, you know the game was looking sour and the championships feeling robbed from NaJin Sword. To think just the day prior they obliterated this team that is now taking this to what looks to be a 1-4 defeat.
In a rather anti-climatic final match to wrap a groundbreaking, incredibly well played and action-packed day, Azubu Blaze bursts with adrenaline and determination and takes game 5 straight away, proving to be too much of a match on their A game and persevering all the way out to win the final match of the Championship, and being crowned 1st place of the MLG Fall Championship 2012.
With an exciting weekend, we can all rest knowing that the scene is slowly being overcome and overshadowed by the dedication and prestige of the Korean Overlords. What holds in store for the EU and NA teams is a mystery, but the Asian teams are looking insanely strong and unstoppable. Every team will be training hard going into Season 3 and attempting to keep raising the perpetual bar on League of Legends as an e-sport. With MLG Fall coming to a close, many lessons were learned, many teams have grown, and many fans were blown away.
This recap was written by Michale Lalor, an aspiring and enthusiastic E-sports journalist, looking to wrap up the exciting and electric events that you might have missed or want to relive in a nostalgic manner.
