The European LCS returned this week with the first semi final match between the 2nd place seeded H2K and the 4th place seeded Origen. This was H2K’s first game back in three weeks having already qualified to the semi finals from their regular season finish. Meanwhile, Origen, having coming straight from a 3-0 victory last week against the Unicorns of Love, looking to continue their dominance in the hopes of making it to the finals next week.
In game one Origen seemed to have the upper hand against H2K with a score of 7 kills to 0 and 4 thousands gold ahead at 20 minutes. Despite this lead though Origen weren’t able to pull the trigger to end the game quickly, giving H2K’s composition time to scale up. After a smite steal from Amazing grants Origen the baron buff they looked to siege upon the inhibitor turret of H2K. But Origen ADC Zven steps too far forward and gets caught out and taken out before the fight began. With their primary carry down, H2K clean up the fight cleanly and with the death timers so high, H2K take down Origens nexus and take the win in game one.
Heading into game two and both teams are showing passive tendencies in their game play, neither team wanting to make any mistakes which might cost them the game. An early team fight at 10 minutes goes in Origens favor at 3 kills to 2 and a 1 thousand gold lead. Origen are able to extend their gold lead and by finding good team fights at the right times, and with their strong front line composition it becomes harder for H2k to find their targets. Origen do not relieve their pressure and are able to secure two baron buffs in this game which allow them to chip away at H2K’s base before engage into one last team fight to pick up the victory in game two.
For a series that many were predicting that H2K would dominate Origen 3 – 0 this series ends up going to 5 games, both teams tied at 2 – 2 with just one more victory separating them from a trip to the European LCS Spring Finals. With so much at stake, both teams feel the pressure this game as they are playing much safer and controlled than before.
First Blood is secured at 12 minutes in favor of H2K but Origen keep the gold difference even by trading towers and constantly rotating. This game waits until 23 minutes before we get our first team fight which ends with Origen killing 4 members of H2K and only losing two. This allows Origen to pick up the baron and from here Origen start to take control as they slowly push and chip away at H2K’s defences, securing towers and extending their gold lead. Origen do not yield their pressure until every last turret and inhibitor is taken down and H2k are left stranded for resources and cannot defend their base. Origen take the nexus and win the series 3 – 2 and earn their spot in the finals next week.
In what could be the biggest upset of the split, the fourth place Origen take the second best team in Europe H2K to 5 games to secure their spot in the finals. After a somewhat underwhelming performance in the regular season this split, Origen remind everyone why they are the team who made it to the League of Legends World Semi Finals last year. 6th place Fnatic are set to take on the 1st place G2 Esports next, and after their impressive victory over Vitality last week, Fnatic could be in with a real shot at taking on the number one team in Europe.
Origen will be watching closely this week and studying their opponents for next week’s fight for the European LCS Spring Championship.
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