The LCS Spring Finals are right here. This break up has seen numerous narratives sprout since its begin, and on April 8 and 9, all free ends will likely be tied up. The “Street to Raleigh” has led as much as this weekend, with three groups—two of whom are vying for his or her first-ever LCS title and the opposite trying to repeat—all within the combine for the trophy, in addition to potential seeds at this 12 months’s Mid-Season Invitational.
Within the week main as much as the Spring Finals, main modifications have occurred off the Rift, together with the sale of Counter Logic Gaming, in addition to the retirement of one in every of NA League’s biggest stars: Bjergsen. Nonetheless, there’s a event to finish, and with the end line in sight, the league’s subsequent champion is on the verge of being topped.
Listed below are 4 of the largest storylines to control all through the LCS Spring Cut up Finals Weekend.
MSI seeding is extra fascinating than ever
For the primary time in League historical past, main area groups will likely be sending two representatives to the Mid-Season Invitational this season. In earlier years, solely the league’s Spring Cut up champion was given a ticket to MSI, however in 2023, the highest two groups from every of the 4 main areas across the globe are invited to the occasion.
Associated: All League of Legends teams qualified for MSI 2023
For the LCS, which means that C9 has already booked their ticket to London, whereas the second group will likely be selected April 8 when FlyQuest and Golden Guardians sq. off. When the Spring Finals happen on April 9, the largest reward on the road (outdoors of the LCS trophy) will likely be seeding rights at MSI, with the champion being seeded instantly into the MSI bracket stage, whereas the runner-up should take part within the play-in stage.
Seize some popcorn, it’s the Berserker Present
Final summer season, Cloud9 gained its first LCS break up in over two years, and heading into Finals Weekend, they’re trying just like the odds-on favourite to stroll away as champs as soon as once more. After they gained their 2022 title, it was AD carry Berserker who walked away as Finals MVP. This 12 months, he’s strolling into the finals because the Spring Split MVP, and in his latest video games, he’s been on an absolute tear. Berserker’s 7.1 KDA is the best amongst all gamers within the postseason, whereas he additionally leads the event in DPM, DMG%, and kills per sport, based on League stats website Oracle’s Elixir.
To date via the playoffs, C9 have been feeding their sources into the Berserker machine, and in the event that they’re going to win all of it once more, they should preserve that machine fortunately chugging alongside.
Golden Guardians, Crew of Future
This Spring, Golden Guardians have been one of many streakiest groups within the LCS, placing collectively a defining seven-game profitable run in the course of the break up along with two separate shedding streaks of three or extra video games. Coming into Finals Weekend, they’ve gained 5 straight playoff video games, together with back-to-back elimination video games in opposition to 100 Thieves and a three-game sweep over Evil Geniuses.
Whereas they misplaced each video games in opposition to FlyQuest within the common break up, Golden Guardians are on a scorching streak. If they will proceed to play as effectively as they did in opposition to EG, they’ve an actual shot to achieve their first break up finals in franchise historical past.
Can FlyQuest return to type?
FlyQuest have taken a noticeable step backwards since their world-burning 8-0 run to open the break up. They’re only one sport over the .500 mark since that undefeated begin (9-8, together with tiebreakers and playoff video games), and are available into the weekend in want of back-to-back sequence wins to clinch their first-ever LCS championship. Ought to they beat the surging Golden Guardians on Saturday, they’ll come face-to-face with C9, who’ve owned them in all of their latest conferences. C9 have gained 5 straight video games in opposition to FlyQuest, together with final week’s bombastic 3-0 sweep within the second round of the playoffs.
When FlyQuest has gained this season, it’s often by the use of mid-to-late-game scaling, however in video games in opposition to C9, they haven’t been capable of finding room to breathe, not to mention develop a late-game lead. If FlyQuest are in a position to play their approach and preserve issues shut early whereas completely enjoying the late-game, they could have the ability to come full circle and win as dominantly as they did within the early portion of the break up.
The 2023 LCS Spring Finals weekend begins tomorrow, April 8, in Raleigh, North Carolina at 3pm CT with FlyQuest in opposition to Golden Guardians.
