League of Legends Championship Series

Lock In Tournament - Quarterfinals Day 2

January 23rd, 2022

(-2000) Evil Geniuses v Golden Guardians (+875)

(-460) Cloud9 v Counter Logic Gaming (+305)

 

On Saturday, the LCS saw one of the biggest upsets in a tournament series ever. 100 Thieves lost in two consecutive games and took an early exit in the Lock In Tournament. With the favorites out of the tournament, a lot of questions are left. Evil Geniuses are the only unbeaten team in the knockout stage but they are facing a very frisky Golden Guardians team. Cloud9, who looked untouchable until their loss to 100T, have to take on a CLG team who has had a much better showing in Lock In than most anticipated. A lot of superstars are on today’s slate and are fighting to play in next week’s semifinals. Let’s dive in!

 

Series #1: Evil Geniuses v Golden Guardians

Cann’s Pick: Evil Geniuses (2-1) 

Series #2: Cloud9 v Counter Logic Gaming

Cann’s Pick: Cloud9 (2-0)

 

Fantasy Value Breakdown

Captain

Favorite: Danny (EG: $11,700) Danny has hit the ground running in 2022. In the Summer Split Danny put the entire LCS on notice picking up a pentakill against the eventual LCS champions 100T. He has 20 kills in 4 games played and EG’s bot lane has put everyone else in a bodybag. Craziest part? He has a sub 70% team kill participation rate which means that there are higher stats for him to get in these matches. I think EG will have a stumble in this series but if they get a 2-0, it will be because Danny rolls through GG.

Value Pick: ry0ma (GG: $10,200) 

Top 

Favorite: Impact (EG: $6,800) Outside of the bot lane, top lane will be the best advantage EG has on Sunday. Tonytop has been serviceable for GG but they clearly have downgraded in the role from Licorice and Huantzer who played the role previously. Impact has a 4.5 KDA and is tied first among top laners with 20 kills (And he did it in one fewer game). MAximize points by picking up the strengths of EG and that includes Impact here.    

Value Pick: Darshan (C9: $6,400) 

Jungle

Favorite: Blaber (C9: $7,200) Blaber is one of the highest performing LCS junglers ever, but he will be hot/cold at times. He is sitting at a 9+ KDA and has 11 kills in his 4 games played. Cloud9 has continued to rely on his ability to get early ganks off and perform at a high level in teamfights. Currently, CLG’s lowest performing member is their jungler (Contracz) and while he will get right, I think it won’t be in this intense series on Sunday.   

Value Pick: Iconic (GG: $6,200) 

Mid

Favorite: Fudge (C9: $7,600) Fudge continues to surprise. Even in Cloud9’s loss to 100T, Fudge went toe to toe with the European superstar in Abbedagge and didn’t blink. He is the second highest performing mid laner behind Bjergsen is averaging about 2 deaths per game while picking up almost 5 kills and over 7 assists in the same time. This is one of the larger mismatches in favor of C9 today and I expect for them to look to exploit it. 

Value Pick: jojopyun (EG: $7,200) 

ADC

Favorite: Zven (C9: $7,600) Zven is about the most consistent player in the LCS. Even in his “slumps” we see he constantly have positive KDAs and will output respectable fantasy points. Usually he is overpriced but at $7,600 he makes the perfect ADC on the slate. Even if C9 find a way to lose to CLG, Luger will not roll him in lane and it will be off of late game teamfights in which Zven will prioritize his life meaning you are not losing points along the way.

Value Pick: Luger (CLG: $7,200) 

Support

Favorite: Vulcan (EG: $5,800) In the list of LCS supports, Vulcan has to make the top five in terms of ability to influence the game. He has a 9 KDA which is a massive lead in that category compared to the field. He and Danny are an oppressive bot lane and they are relentless in their aggression. They roam to objectives in the mid game and you will see them pick up kill participation. I think this will be the lane that will get EG to the tournament finals and even better, it is under the $6,000 price point.

Value Pick: Isles (C9: $5,400) 

Team

Favorite: Evil Geniuses ($5,000) This should be the best team on the slate. Am I scarred from the 100T blunder on Saturday? Yeah, but we have to understand that it is also an anomaly. The bottom teams with the new players are better than originally anticipated but EG has great pedigree and veteran experience.  

Value Pick: Golden Guardians ($4,400) 
 

Cann’s Example Lineup

DraftKings Classic 

$50,000 Salary Cap

 

Captain (x1.5): Fudge (C9: $11,400)

Alternate: jojopyun (EG: $10,800)

Top:  Impact (EG: $6,800)

Jungle:  Blaber (C9: $7,200)

Alternate: Iconic (GG: $6,200)

Mid:  ry0ma (GG: $6,800)

ADC: Zven (C9: $7,600)

Alternate: Luger (CLG: $7,200)

Support: Isles (C9: $5,400)

Team: Cloud9 ($4,800)