Day 3 of First Stand was slated to feature a banger series between BLG and G2 Esports, with the winner advancing to the playoffs. The second matchup would have one of BFX or TSW eliminated from the competition.
With the stakes this high, everyone would surely perform at their best, right? Well…
Match 1: BLG vs. G2 Esports
The first matchup of the day was between the Chinese champions BLG, who defeated BFX, and Europe’s own G2, who managed to overcome the resistance of TSW. BLG and G2 know each other pretty well: it’s already a meme at this point that these two teams meet at every international event. BLG’s jungler Xun heavily praised the LEC Versus champions before the event, which may have lulled them into a false sense of security.
Game 1 started decently for G2, with botlane getting 2v2 wins, midlaners matching each other, and junglers tracking well. Skirmishes and teamfights were back and forth, with G2 even gaining the advantage in some of them, but up until the moment Bin arrived. When he hit his powerspikes, every fight was skewed around him: a true vintage GigaBin carry performance.
In game 2, G2’s sololanes were abused again, with Knight and Bin never letting Caps and BrokenBlade gain any foothold. Hans Sama tried, but it was not to be.
Game 3 was the most painful to watch for any EU fan. G2 was getting dismantled everywhere, every 50/50 going BLG’s way. Knight’s Akali got so fed that a single Q dealt 60% of Milio’s entire health bar in damage. A true world-class performance by the Chinese midlaner.
With this win, BLG advances into the playoffs. G2 Esports will have another chance in the elimination match against BFX.
Match 2: BFX vs. TSW
The BNK FEARX team really has a gem on their hands with Diable. He’s only 18, but already plays with the fearlessness and aggression of a seasoned veteran. He manages to stand out and turn heads even in the region with Ruler, Gumayusi, and Peyz.
This aggressiveness allowed him to get his second Pentakill of the tournament in the first game against Team Secret Whales.
In all three games, he, Kellin, and VicLa were playing really well, with Raptor facilitating the leads. But for some reason, even in three easily won games, Clear managed to have a disasterclass.
Hopefully, he manages to clear his game up before the next match, because G2 Esports is a clutch team and won’t forgive mistakes and freely given leads.
BFX and G2 Esports will fight for the final spot tomorrow. What we have today is a Group B fight between Gen.G and LYON, as well as the elimination match with JDG and LOUD.
