TSM eliminated from Worlds, Team WE and Misfits advance to Knockout Stage

The two advancing teams from Group D have been decided after a final day full of unexpected results.

While every group so far has had its share of surprises, Group D was a special kind of confusing. Of the four teams to play each other in the group, three of them had a chance to make it out, and none of them consistently played well enough to unquestionably deserve a spot in the Knockout Stage.

Unfortunately for North American fans, the closest thing to consistent in the group was TSM’s early game which was abysmal in all six matches the team played at the tournament. These early game struggles, something that was present during their win of the North American LCS Summer Split, but never really hurt them domestically, were the biggest reason that wins were hard to come by for the team. After entering week one as the favorites to leave Group D as the number one seed, TSM end with a 3-3 record and in third place after losing the tiebreaker against EU’s Misfits.

For a full look at what happened on Group D’s final day, check out our full breakdown below.

Misfits vs Flash Wolves

Winner: Misfits

Riot Games

Technically, Misfits picked a composition that required them to get a lead early to have even a small chance in the game. At least, that’s how it was supposed to work. Instead, Flash Wolves took a massive lead and floundered in the mid game failing to take any objectives at all, giving Misfits an open window through which they managed to steal away the game.

Team WE vs TSM

Winner: Team WE

TSM picked losing lanes that were reliant on their jungler to keep things from getting out of hand. Instead, we got another anemic early game, which is exactly what Team WE were hoping for. WE picked a fantastic early game composition, took all three outer turrets and won off that gold lead.

Flash Wolves vs Team WE

Winner: Team WE

Team WE played almost the exact same strategy against Flash Wolves that helped them beat TSM in the game before and the results were about the same, only a little bit faster. A mechanically efficient siege combined with small pockets of aggression gave WE an early lead and that was all they needed to give Flash Wolves their fifth loss of the tournament.

TSM vs Misfits

Winner: TSM

Riot Games

This game started just like all of the other TSM losses. Misfits dominated the early game, particularly bottom lane thanks to the Blitzcrank pick, but they couldn’t quite close things out with their 5k gold lead. Instead, some phenomenal teamfight engagements from TSM led them back into the game with their carries showing up well in each fight. When the game boiled down to teamfights. TSM showed why their one of NA’s best, and managed to pull out the unlikely win to stay alive at Worlds.

Flash Wolves vs TSM

Winner: Flash Wolves

TSM once again completely fail the early game. This time, the struggles came from an unlikely source. TSM attempted to gank and fight in both bottom and top lane, and couldn’t pull them off in either case. This set them behind early and denied them any chance at ever having a chance in this game.

Misfits vs Team WE

Winner: Team WE

This game seemed like a sure thing for Misfits at 15 minutes, and it even seemed to be going their way at 20, but as the game got later, the Lulu Kog’Maw combination from Team WE began to take over and by the time the game ended at 44 minutes, Kog’Maw was simply far too much for Misfits to handle, helping them close the game and force a tiebreaker between TSM and Misfits.

TSM vs Misfits

Winner: Misfits

I’m running out of ways to say that TSM’s early game is bad. This game it was like they willingly chose not to participate in that phase of the game. While Misfits were ganking top lane and punishing one of the only winning lanes that TSM has picked all Worlds, TSM was passively farming. With TSM putting so much of their compositions strengths top lane, and then losing that lane, the game was completely in Misfits’ hands as they took the game in just about 30 minutes.