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Immortals have come out on top of Counter Logic Gaming in a 2-0 sweep and with the win gain sole possession of first place in the NA LCS Summer Split. In what was supposed to be one of the region’s best series, both teams look scattered and uncoordinated with no clear sense of how to engage or build on a lead.
The first game started out with a strong early game from Immortals, though they were unable to turn that lead into any significant objectives, until Counter Logic Gaming took several poor fights that resulted in IMT being able to take objectives. This trend continued and finally resulted in IMT taking the game.
Game two had a polar opposite start thanks to some strong ganks from Dardoch, however, CLG suffered the same problem as the first game where they couldn’t push a lead, and constantly took poor fights for no reason. Similarly, they managed to get picked off frequently which gave Immortals objective after objective until they ultimately managed to finish out the game.
7:36 pm ET — Somehow, CLG continue to find ways to get caught out. This time, it costs them 5k in gold and a Baron buff.
7:31 pm ET — Gold is almost dead even despite CLG having a 9-2 kill lead, largely thanks to IMT’s 3-1 lead on towers.
7:23 pm ET — After a few great ganks on the side of CLG they have failed to take significant advantage of the kills and are down 2 towers to zero early.
7:10 pm ET — Pick and Ban Game 2
Both teams are going to have fantastic pick potential with these compositions along with some solid split pushing on the side lanes. Overall, the utility on the side of Immortals could end up being slightly better than CLG’s however, the team compositions line up very similarly.
CLG: Fiora, Rek’Sai, Ashe, Ahri, Tahm Kench
Bans: Leblanc, Olaf, Galio, Syndra, Cassiopeia
IMT: Renekton, Elise, Taliyah, Kalista, Thresh
Bans: Zac, Gragas, Braum, Kennen, Aurelion Sol
6:52 pm ET — IMT take a messy and uncoordinated game one against CLG. They didn’t quite seem to know what to do with their composition, but CLG was even more confused so it worked out.
6:49 pm ET — These teamfights are absolute disasters for both teams. IMT over engages, almost loses one to CLG, who then completely lose focus on Cody Sun and overstay leading to a 4-2 trade.
6:46 pm ET — Despite Immortals not effectively taking any objectives, CLG continue to run into them giving away picks for free, which leads to small incremental gains from IMT.
6:36 pm ET — 20 minutes in and the game is mostly in favor of Immortals as they press a very small early game advantage into the midgame. Despite having a lead, they are only up 2k gold and 1 tower, meaning that the game is still well within reach of CLG.
6:17 pm ET: Pick and Ban Game 1
Both comps in this game are going to be fairly effective at most things and not particularly excellent at anything. IMT are going to come into this game with the focus squarely set on team fighting, despite not actually having a great composition for it. They are going to be okay, at best, on picks as a secondary win condition. For Counter Logic Gaming, wins are going to come from effective use of the 4-1 split push that their composition excels at, though they can take team fight, should the need arise.
IMT: Jarvan IV, Gragas, Galio, Jhin, Bard
Bans: Aurelion Sol, Braum, Fiora, Shen, Taliyah
CLG: Camille, Kha’Zix, Orianna, Caitlyn, Tahm Kench
Bans: Zac, Rek’Sai, Olaf, Renekton, Lucian,
Through the first three weeks of the Summer Split, the entirety of the North American LCS has had their eyes on Immortals and Counter Logic Gaming. During the off-season the two teams made one of the highest profile, and most effective, trades in the league’s history when they swapped junglers, putting Jake “Xmithie” Puchero on Immortals and Joshua “Dardoch” Hartnett on Count Logic Gaming.
While the trade was met with early scrutiny, it has proven to be successful as both teams now sit at the top of the standings. All these things have built up to this climactic first meeting in week four.
While both teams enter the series looking strong, the key for both is likely to come down to those two players traded between them. With both junglers playing very different styles, Hartnett is going to need to help CLG secure an early lead in order to help mitigate the late game stability, in both team fights and map movement, offered by Puchero.
Counter Logic Gaming
- Darshan Upadhyaya
- Joshua “Dardoch” Hartnett
- Jaehyun “Huhi” Choi
- Trevor “Stixxay” Hayes
- Zaqueri “aphromoo” Black
Immortals
- Lee “Flame” Ho-jong
- Jake “Xmithie” Puchero
- Eugene “Pobelter” Park
- Sun “Cody Sun” Li Yu
- Kim “Olleh” Joo-sun
The series will be a best-of-three and can be watched on Twitch and lolesports and should start around 6:15 pm ET.