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KT and DK, tied for 2nd place with 3 wins and 1 loss, face off in a head-to-head match
Data provided by - LCK
League of Legends Champions Korea (represented by CEO Osang Heon, hereinafter 'LCK') announced that the standings of the top-ranked teams are expected to change significantly during the 3rd week of the 2023 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Summer Split, held from Wednesday the 21st to Sunday the 25th at the LCK Arena in LoL Park, Jongno-gu, Seoul, as they face off against each other.
As a result of the matches up to the 2nd week, 'Defending Champion' Gen.G secured the top spot with a perfect record of 4 wins, while T1 and KT Rolster, who recorded 2 wins in the 2nd week, and Dplus KIA, who recorded 1 win and 1 loss but already secured 2 wins in the 1st week, are ranked 공동 2nd with 3 wins and 1 loss, and a set score difference of +4.
◆KT Rolster vs. Dplus KIA Matchup 'Eye-Catching'
The most notable match in the 3rd week is the matchup between KT Rolster and Dplus KIA, who are 공동 2nd with 3 wins and 1 loss, on the 22nd (Thursday).
KT Rolster boasts the shortest game times and explosive firepower in this Summer Split. Having played the most games (based on sets) among the 10 teams with 10 games, KT Rolster recorded an average game time of 27 minutes and 34 seconds, marking the shortest game time. Once they gain an advantage, they continue to build on it - so-called snowballing - and their ability to defeat opponents in a short amount of time is outstanding.
Dplus KIA has created a highly efficient team color, scoring the most kills per game while having the fewest deaths. Dplus KIA, which ranks 1st with 12.4 kills per game, also has the fewest deaths with 6.8 deaths per game. They are skilled in skirmishes and do not give kills to the enemy, making them less prone to comebacks.
The head-to-head record between the two teams is 16 to 4 in favor of Dplus KIA, but they showed a close competition in this year's Spring Split with 1 win and 1 loss. In the 1st round of the Spring Regular League, KT Rolster won 2 to 1, and in the 2nd round, Dplus KIA won 2 to 0.
◆Keep an Eye on the Two Teams' Paths as They Face Their Nemeses
The two teams, who will face off on the 22nd, must face other top-ranked teams two days later on the 24th (Saturday). Dplus KIA will meet Gen.G, who continued their winning streak until the 2nd week, and KT Rolster will face their rival T1.
Dplus KIA has faced Gen.G 8 times in major and minor tournaments from Spring 2022 to 2023, but has lost every time. They lost all 6 head-to-head matches in the LCK regular league (2022 Spring-Summer, 2023 Spring), and lost twice to Gen.G in the 2022 LCK Spring Semifinals and the same year's LoL World Championship Quarterfinals, both by a score of 2 to 3. In order for Dplus KIA to achieve a high ranking in this Summer Split, they must overcome the mountain that is Gen.G, so attention is focused on the match on the 24th.
KT Rolster will also face their rival T1 on the same day. KT Rolster and T1 have formed a rivalry since the early 2000s, but T1 has been overwhelmingly dominant in LoL esports tournaments over the past 3 years. T1 has won 10 consecutive games from the 2nd round of Spring 2021 to the 2nd round of the Spring Playoffs on March 25 this year. For KT Rolster, who are aiming to advance to this year's World Championship, overcoming their nemesis T1 is crucial to achieving their goal more easily, making it a more important match than any other.
◆Which Matches Did the Casters Recommend?
The fact that the matchups arranged in the 3rd week are amazing is also revealed in the selection of recommended matches by the casters. All four domestic and foreign casters chose different matches, indirectly explaining that there are plenty of things to see this week.
Caster Hyunwoo 'CloudTemplar' Lee chose KT Rolster vs. Dplus KIA held on the 22nd (Thursday). This is because it is a match between teams that can break the two-way race between Gen.G and T1. Caster Dongjin 'Helios' Shin recommended the match between Dplus KIA and Gen.G held on the 24th (Saturday), explaining, "Attention is focused on whether Dplus KIA can stop Gen.G's winning streak in the Summer Split and build momentum."
Foreign casters also recommended different matches. Dan 'Aux' Harrison recommended the match between Hanwha Life Esports and Kwangdong Freecs held on the 23rd (Friday), saying, "The match between 'Viper' Park Do-hyeon and 'Teddy' Park Jin-seong is being held in the LCK for the first time in a long time, so it is enough to attract the attention of fans." Max 'Atlus' Anderson emphasized that the match between T1 and KT Rolster on the 24th (Saturday) is a must-watch, saying, "Attention is focused on which team will win and prove that they are a strong team in the match between the two teams that played a full set in the Spring Playoffs."
Webzine InvenReporter Kim Hongje
2023-06-20