We’re officially halfway through the 2016 LCK Spring Split and it’s time to look at the current rankings and each team’s prospects for the future.
It was a short week in the LCK but an exciting one nonetheless. At the midway point the standings show one undefeated team, one winless and a litany of teams huddled together in between. Let’s look at where things stand after the first 7 weeks of LCK play.
S Tier
ROX Tigers (9-0)
(courtesy of OGN)
The ROX Tigers victory this week was just about as dominating as could be. It took less than 50 minutes total for them to win their series. The Tigers were once again led by some incredible play from Yoon "Peanut" Wang-ho as he put on one of the most oppressive Jungle performances of all time.
In perhaps the first time in LCK history the Tigers were able to keep their opponents from obtaining a single buff thanks to some incredible teamwork and Peanut’s pressure. ROX continue to impress and it looks like very little is going to stop them. The only real question now is if they have the focus and drive to finish the split undefeated.
A Tier
Jin Air Green Wings (6-3)
(courtesy of Inven)
Coming into this split, expectations were that the Jin Air Green Wings would be a very average team. Between the departure of their two biggest stars and getting 2-0’d by CLG at IEM San Jose, there weren’t many who expected this team to be near the top of the table. Yet, Jin Air have defied these expectations and halfway through the split they remain in a tie for second place.
Their methodical, measured style of play gives them a chance in almost every game. The team has followed the lead of their star Top Laner Yeo “Trace” Chang-dong, remaining cool and calm in the face of their opposition. While they may not be the most individually talented team in Korea, the Green Wings’ ability to work as a team has allowed them to win against those with more mechanical ability. They seem primed for a strong second half and will continue to push towards the playoffs.
KT Rolster (6-3)
(courtesy of OGN)
After a tough loss to Jin Air, KT Rolster bounced back with two quality wins to end the first half of the split. Their series win against Longzhu Gaming was in particular a great showing from KT. Despite getting absolutely blown out in the first game of the series, KT showed resolve and won the next two games. Quietly, No “Arrow” Dong-Hyeon continues to impress and is doing his part to help carry out of the bottom lane.
While this team is certainly very skilled individually, when they fall behind they seem to struggle to get themselves back into the game. Another key for KT will be the play of Song “Fly” Young-jun. While he has shown a real mastery of Lux and is very good on Lulu, much of the time his play is lacking. This is not to say he is by any means a bad player, but if he is able to elevate his game it will certainly make KT a very formidable opponent for the remainder of the split.
B Tier
Samsung Galaxy (6-3)
(courtesy of OGN)
Having won their last three series, Samsung Galaxy find themselves tied for second in wins. However, it is worth noting that, despite being 6-3 in their series, an 14-11 their overall win/loss record is not quite as impressive as KT or Jin Air. For that reason, they are still a tier below the aforementioned teams.
Yet, at the moment, Samsung is certainly gaining ground as they continue to mature and grow as a team. There is a lot to be excited about as a Samsung fan and there is no doubt they possess the ability to move up even further in the standings.
SKTelecom T1 (5-4)
(courtesy of OGN)
Just when everything seemed in order for SKTelecom T1, it just as soon fell apart. After their decisive victory over KT, it seemed like SKT was back in form. But, after losing a tough series to a decent looking Longhzu, SKT dropped another series to the struggling Afreeca Freecs. All the momentum gained from their previous performances has been completely nullified by this most recent loss.
Going into IEM after such a disappointing loss can certainly not be good for the team’s psyche. It will be interesting to see how they stack up against this very average group of international teams. Despite their current form, it would still be a shocking result if SKT somehow did not make it out of groups. How well they perform at IEM could set the stage for their performance the rest of the split.
C Tier
Longzhu Gaming (5-4)
(courtesy of OGN)
Longzhu Gaming’s series against KT was more or less a microcosm of their season as a whole. They look dominant in one game, tilted in another and then left ultimately confused by lack of shotcalling and multiple substitutions. This really sums up their season and this was none more evident in this series. In the first game, they looked fantastic, outplaying KT at every turn.
Game 2 however was a completely different story. After a failed invade and an early death, Lee “Chaser” Sang-hyun struggled mightily. For a player who is known as a high quality Nidalee player, the tilt in Chaser’s play was obvious. He proceeded to face plant multiple wall jumps and missed stationary minions with spears. Game 3 saw substitutions for Longzhu and an absolutely terrible draft. They inexplicably picked Zed into a Lissandra matchup, and it went just about as well as you would expect.
This team really is on the precipice of quality yet they still look painfully average at times. Longzhu is certainly a team that if they finally click, could instantly be top 3 in the league.
CJ Entus (4-5)
(courtesy of OGN)
CJ Entus may have a losing record but there is a lot to be excited about for CJ fans. Expectations for the first half of the split were incredibly low, as CJ was unable to field their whole starting roster. Potentially starting next week is the much hyped Mid Laner Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong. Bdd turns 17 on March 1 so he will be eligible for the rest of the season.
CJ will also see the return of their former Jungler Kang “DayDream” Kyung-min. Both of these changes could be huge for CJ. Midlane and Jungle have been far and away the biggest struggle for this team, on many occasions holding them back. This change could also help CJ amend their notoriously poor early game. DayDream’s ability to create early pressure could really turn this team around. It will be really fun to see just how high in the standings CJ can climb.
D Tier
Afreeca Freecs (3-6)
(courtesy of OGN)
Afreeca Freecs had been on the verge of winning a series for the past few weeks, constantly taking a single game off of an opponent but ultimately failing to win the series. Closing out the first half of the split with an upset victory over SKT is massive for the Freecs’ confidence going forward. Their sheer exuberance and excitement was palpable as the players jumped and hugged as if they had just won the World Championship.
As a team, they have always kept a positive spirit about them and it was great to see them finally be rewarded with a moment of redemption. The Freecs have certainly separated themselves from the bottom three teams and look capable of taking a series off of some of the better teams.
F Tier
Kongdoo Monster (1-8)
(courtesy of OGN)
Despite changing their name, the artists formally known as e-mFire continue right where they left off with another winless week. Now playing under the name Kongdoo Monster the team continues to struggle. It is becoming increasingly evident that they are going to be in a two team race to avoid last place. They have only won 4 games this split, just one more than Sbenu Sonicboom.
Sbenu Sonicboom (0-9)
(courtesy of OGN)
That was certainly a painful way for Sbenu Sonicboom to finish the first half of the split. You had to feel bad for Sbenu as they were completely dismantled by the Rox Tigers. It is starting to seem as if the only team they have any chance of beating in a series is Kongdoo Monster. T
here are certainly some players on this roster who will make a nice addition to another team, but it is looking more likely that this Sbenu team is not going to work out. As a fan of the game, you have to hope for the players’ sake they are able to pick up a win before the season’s end.
