S. Samek
We have a makeup week to cover plus the most recent weekend of action to cover. Let’s see what happened on the rift.
For week six we had Team Liquid and 100 Thieves both going 2-0. Liquid defeated CLG and Flyquest. 100 Thieves took out Echo Fox and Optic. Liquid was challenged a little by CLG,but beat Flyquest with ease in 30 minutes.
100 scored a good win against an improving Optic gaming and crushed Echo Fox in a 30 minute game. They seem to be improving as it gets closer to playoffs. This is a team that has a shot to get into the playoffs now.
Optic and CLG had the 0-2 weekends. Optic lost to Clutch and the aforementioned 100 Thieves. Disappointing, losses there. Yet they still sat at 6-6 and closer t playoffs than out of them.
CLG lost to Liquid and Golden Guardians. Nothing terrible, but they aren’t really moving up in the standings by going 0-2. CLG is a team that could be top two ,or three without a doubt,but its weeks like this where they have to scratch there head and think they could have played better.
TSM, Cloud 9, Echo Fox, Clutch, Flyquest and Golden Guardians each picked 1-1 weeks.
Echo Fox had a big win over Cloud 9 on day one, but didnt carry over the momentum during a day two loss to 100 Thieves.
TSM downed Clutch, but then allowed Cloud 9 to comeback and steal a win in an entertaining game.
Cloud 9 seemed to be slumping a bit, but by going one and one they kept up in the standings not droping nay worse than third.
Clutch played opposite games during week six. They were trounced by TSM and then they trounced Optic. They aren’t out of playoffs yet,but have to work to make the playoffs.
Flyquest is playing better recently and probably had an expected week of results against Liquid and Golden Guardians.
Golden Guardians probably lucked out by going 1-1. They haven’t been playing well recently, but its not bad enough to fall into last place. Plus they took down CLG, who seems to be a stronger opponent. They are a team to watch to see if they have what it takes t make playoffs again.
Then we have week seven. Team Liquid is starting to run away with things. The sit at 11-3 ,top spot in the standings and winners of five in a row. They defeated Golden Guardians and Clutch to secure a 2-0 week. They are the front runners to take the top spot for sure heading into playoffs.
CLG went 2-0 this week with wins over Cloud 9 and Flyquest. They sit at 9-5 and tied for second, with Cloud 9. Yet give a small edge for CLG after this last win head to head in a game that was very one sided. A run at world’s is very much a possibility.
Optic went undefeated this week as well. They beat Echo Fox and TSM. they sit tied with TSM at 8-6 for fourth, but only trail second by a game. I think another win,or two guarantees them a playoff spot. Escpially if CLG,or Cloud 9 drop a game,or two.
Golden Guardians went winless this week losing to TSM and Team Liquid. They struggled against Liquid big time. Yet they had a lead against TSM and then Broken Blade took to the spilt push and stole TSM the win. It was one of those games you have to watch and again and question how TSM won. This is a sort of litmus test week for GGS and they failed it. They showed a little bit of life against playoff contenders, but lost a big chance to distance themselves from the pack toward a guaranteed playoff spot. At 6-8 they sit tied with two other teams for the sixth position. Its going to take work to get them into the playoffs,but if they miss out I doubt anyone would be surprised.
Echo Fox also put up a goose egg for the week at the hands of Clutch and Optic. They sit at 3-11 and have lost three in a row. They are only a game behind Flyquest for last, but sit three games out of the sixth place spot. Its a long shot to reach playoffs if the chance is even still there.
Flyquest put up an 0-2 week after losses to CLG and 100 Thieves. They lost to CLG in a boring game tht only saw 11 kills combined. Then they lost to 100 Thieves in convincing fashion. They have a 4-10 record after seven weeks, which places them in ninth. They sit two games behind the sixth place tie, but only a game out of last. It’s been a big drop-off from spring and playoffs and even a regionals run are in major danger inless they shapeup and pretty much win out.
TSM. Cloud 9, 100 Thieves and Clutch had spilt weeks at 1-1.
TSM stole one from Golden Guardians, but didn’t look too impressive against Optic. TSM hasn’t really played as good as they good be this spilt and could fall out of a worlds spot unless they get it togther. I doo see them making playoffs though.
Cloud 9 still sits in second at a 9-5 record. They beat 100 Thieves, yet lost to CLG. Now the loss to CLG isn’t life altering, but I think it says the gap between Cloud 9 and the other playoff teams is closing. Cloud 9’s best bet is to finish strong and hope TSM falters a bit to try and get to worlds from points rather than a regionals run. It just feels a worlds spot is a bit more in trouble than it is guaranteed with C9.
100 Thieves did about as expected losing to C9 and beating Flyquest. They sit at 6-8 and tied for sixth.
Samek with Clutch. After Beating Echo Fox and losing to Liquid they sit at 6-8 and in a tight race for the playoffs. Honestly I don’t think any of the three 6-8 teams is emerging as a clear front runner. 100 Thieves might have a small advantage sense they seem to be playing better as of recently.
Its a race to the playoffs to be sure. Worth watching for sure.
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