LCS Spring 2023: Team Liquid’s Korean Superstars Hit Their Straps Slowly

• CLG devoid of momentum as they slip-up; FlyQuest a reliable pick
• Vulcan and Jojopyun give Evil geniuses the edge
• IgNar’s absence hurts Dignitas; TSM with upper hand

CLG v FlyQuest Pick

CLG

CLG v FlyQuest Predictions

FlyQuest Favourites; CLG Need To Channel First Week Form

As things stand, this is a clash between teams at the opposite ends of the results spectrum, but a lot could change during the week. CLG are due to play 100 Thieves and Team Liquid before they take on current leaders FlyQuest, and much of their plans and strategy will revolve around those two results. 

Even if they were to win one of those two games, CLG will continue their mid-table jostle. Two wins, however unlikely given both sides have better pedigree and are ranked higher, will vault them into the top half. So for them, a solid showing during the week, the kind they showed to begin the split, is of essence as they build towards the weekend.

Dignitas are currently rooted at the bottom and are unlikely to upstage CLG just yet, but that’s no consolation really. Go big and go home with FlyQuest, they have got everything going their way as their results so far - 6-0 win-loss record - suggests. Expect them to continue the joyride.

FlyQuest best in NA currently

Or at least, they can challenge to be she best. Their manner of warding off competition so far in the 2023 split has been mighty impressive. Ask Evil Geniuses over 100 Thieves, their two fierce rivals who have fallen by their wayside in games where FlyQuest appeared to have been cut from a different cloth. 

Impact has so far been among their best support players, involved in as many as 7.33 assists on an average, and if you thought that was impressive, you haven’t heard of Spica, yet; his assist rate is even better at 9.93. Assists alone don’t contribute to proficiency, their kill rate has been equally impressive.

Prince scores on that front, landing 7.5 kills, 0.67 deaths and 4.33 assists on an average, along with a creep score of 324. This fine cocktail of attack and defense has worked in superb combination all through the split so far, and they’ve shown no signs of slowing down.

Immortals vs Evil Geniuses Pick

Evil Geniuses

Immortals vs Evil Geniuses Predictions

Don’t Take A Blind Shot On Immortals

Evil Geniuses have looked a part for most parts of spring 2023, and barring their loss to FlyQuest, they’ve had five solid games and are currently second in the standings, even though there’s a long way to go. Immortals will be the first to admit their progress this season has been a case of taking a step forward and two steps back.

Every time they’ve looked like a team that’s shedding that tag of being underachievers, they have turned in a listless performance. They are currently eighth with a 2-4 record, with CLG breathing down their necks. This one’s an easy pick: Evil Geniuses have the odds firmly with them. Make them your safe picks. There’s a time and place to be adventurous. This game isn’t the place for you to take a blind shot.

Evil Geniuses Ride Piggyback on Vulcan, Jojopyun

In their most-recent game, Evil Geniuses showed why they are among the more feared outfits. In upstaging Cloud9, their offensive proficiency and pin-point dismantling of their opponents stood out. They landed 10 kills to Cloud9’s two, captured 10 towers while allowing their opponents to breach just two.

Their early surge on the gold lead count didn’t abate right through the contest, which told you of their sustained dominance. Vulcan with 9 assists and Jojopyun with 6 kills had the most impact in the match. In many ways, it was them merely doing what they have so far this season - being utterly dominant. Don’t expect much to change in this clash.

Team Liquid vs Cloud9 Pick

Team Liquid

Team Liquid vs Cloud9 Predictions

Hard To Pick A Winner; Liquid Have Slight Edge

Team Liquid and Cloud9 are involved in a mid-table jostle, with results leading into Saturday set to have a massive bearing on who remains in the top half and who slips to the bottom. As things stand, Liquid are placed sixth having won three and lost three, and have two tough games coming up against CLG and Evil Geniuses. 

The luck of the draw hasn’t entirely been in their favor with such a potentially competitive slew of games in the middle that could have a massive ramification on their standing. As such, the punters have odds so closely stacked for both sides that it’s going to be hard to pick a winner purely on current form because both of them have been spectacularly inconsistent so far.

Team Liquid’s Korean Superstars Hit Their Straps Slowly

Having made a mark in the LCK as a jungler, Pyosik is on a high having been part of history with DRX during their run at Worlds last year. Being part of a play-in team to win an International event seems to have given his career wings. The move to North America now has given him more wings. So far, he has averaged 2.17 kills, 2.17 deaths and 6.33 assists, along with a KDA of 3.92 and creep score of 169.83. 

In isolation, this may not look most impressive, but it’s only when you take into context his partnership with Summit that a real picture emerges. It’s this fine partnership that has so far helped Liquid in their wins, although the two have been really off in the games where they haven’t had a window of an opportunity. Now to build on that consistency factor.

TSM vs Dignitas Pick

TSM

TSM v Dignitas Predictions

Only Way Is Up For Dignitas

How do you pick yourselves up when you’ve been smashed in six games and are rooted firmly to the bottom of the pile, with little hope of finishing in the top eight, even though a better part of the campaign still remains? Well, it’s simple. By believing the only way from this point is up.

Dignitas can’t catch a cold at the moment, but have the opportunity to make a beginning. And this is a good point from where they can make a push for the mid-table, which should be a realistic aim. 

Dignitas Lacking Synergy

Dignitas have somewhat been hampered by the absence of their gun support player Kim “IgNar” Dong-geun. In his absence, they’ve had to bring in Vicent “Biofrost” Wang as a substitute. The move hasn’t entirely paid off as the results suggest. How much they’re willing to back him remains to be seen, although when results aren’t going you way it may be hard to justify.

In addition to this, visa issues for top laner İrfan Berk “Armut” Tükek, who arrived in LA less than a week before the split, messed up their strategies to an extent. The support synergy of IgNar and jungler Lucas “Santorin” Larsen helped form a superb working combination at FlyQuest in 2020. Sadly circumstances haven’t allowed Dignitas to feed off that synergy this time around.

Golden Guardians v 100 Thieves Pick

100 Thieves

Golden Guardians vs 100 Thieves Predictions 

100 Thieves Can Vault Into Top Three

Two mid-table teams will compete in a clash of equals to round off our Saturday clashes. 100 Thieves have a slender advantage they may want to capitalize on by virtue of being in the top five at the moment. With a logjam between three teams for the second spot resulting in a closely packed table, a couple of wins heading into Saturday’s fixture could give them some breathing space.

Guardians may be placed seventh right now, but a win is all it will take for them to vault into the mid-table. Guardians have the edge, so go with a safe option for this one.

How To Watch LCS Spring 2023

• Teams: 100 Thieves, Cloud9, Golden Guardians, Evil Geniuses, FlyQuest, Team Liquid, Counter Logic Gaming, Dignitas, Immortals

• Location: North America

• Time: Friday, February 17 at 3 PM ET onwards

• How to watch: LCS Twitch channel