MSI 2017 has successfully ran through its 3-week course. Contrary to many people’s expectations, grand finals between SKT T1 and G2 Esports turned out to be full of nail-biting matches. Considering G2 wasn’t able to get a single game off of SKT T1 in Group Stage, the outcome may come as a surprise. Granted, the series itself ended on the side of SKT T1 as usual. However, Game 2 saw a different side of SKT T1, the team thought to be infallible.

In this last episode of MSI Match Analysis, we’ll take a closer look at Game 2, where G2 outplayed SKT T1 in a dominant fashion. Though SKT T1’s draft was quite clever, G2 outmaneuvered the opponent’s ploy and dictated the pace of the game. Starting from the draft phase, here’s how SKT T1 crumbled under its own weight.


▣ Draft: SKT T1 tries to shut off Zven

SKT T1 aimed to get a chokehold on G2’s key player, Zven by banning out Lulu and Karma, the dual shield comp as well as taking Ivern and Tahm Kench to eliminate ways for G2 to save their ADC. On top of that, SKT T1 also banned Shen and Gragas, two champions that excel in protecting ADCs. Since G2 used Perkz to lead the early game while Zven closed in the late game, it was a strategic choice by SKT T1 to nip Zven’s carry potential in the bud.

Yet, there were some points of interest SKT T1 overlooked. The first point was that Trick’s Lee Sin had comparatively good showings even next to Peanut despite the recent degradation in form. The next point was that SKT T1 laners were mostly on their own to take the lane dominance by themselves since Peanut opted for Ivern.

In other words, SKT T1 had too many moving parts for their plan to work. Galio and Ahri were a textbook disrupt & flank comp, in which Ahri shakes up the front line while Galio applies the finishing blow. Perhaps it was too ambitious against G2 because Perkz’s current form was at an all-time high in his career and Expect also had his signature Gangplank ready to go.


▣ When fear becomes a reality

SKT T1’s mistake started with misjudging Perkz. In Game 1, Faker was largely rendered ineffective by Trick’s precise target gank, and maybe the jungler’s interference is the reason for underestimating Perkz. Faker’s Ahri had to fight an uphill battle against Perkz’s Syndra, an especially hard one at that before level 6 and without Flash. Faker naturally fell behind early and gave up a solo kill to Perkz, who had a level lead. Though Faker’s death was a big deal on its own, it was the 2v2 teamfight at the top between top laners and junglers profoundly tilted the scales.

▲ Faker almost getting Baby Perkz'd.

SKT’s decision to go on an all-out war with G2 is questionable, to say the least. Though Galio and Ivern are powerful and efficient champions on their own, they have little to no chance against Lee Sin and Gangplank duo. SKT T1 lost Ivern in this fight and Galio in the subsequent 1v1 with Gangplank, painting a grim picture for SKT T1’s top and jungle.

▲ This teamfight marked the beginning of the end for SKT T1.

From this point, SKT T1’s master plan went awry with top and mid laners dead. There was nothing Ivern as a jungler could do when solo laners lost their lanes because Ivern doesn’t have enough firepower to pick off enemy laners before Trick comes around to cover. As the game went on, Gangplank grew to be a force to be reckoned with whereas Perkz’s Syndra essentially became a killing machine.

This wouldn’t have been possible, if it weren’t for Trick’s Lee Sin. Unfortunately often overshadowed by Peanut in this tournament, Trick’s Lee Sin could hold his own on a world stage. In fact, he proved his worth beyond doubt in this game.

▲ Trick's showings were definitely strong this game.

So, this is how G2 took the game away from SKT T1. After mid and top lanes, the axis of strategy, were compromised, SKT T1 not only couldn’t expect an Ahri-Galio synergy, but also failed to shut down Zven through draft. When everything else isn’t equal in terms of items, carefully thought-out plans go out the windows. The game panned out as everyone has seen. Though SKT T1 attempted to catch up by assassinating essential targets, G2 players were miles ahead, down to Kow’Maw, the champion SKT T1 specifically wanted to shut down. Ultimately, SKT T1 had to give up the game after failing to contain G2’s advances.


▣ Catching SKT T1 off guard: How to make gods bleed

SKT T1’s logic behind the draft was sound, but they failed to implement it into practice. The main reason was the lack of respect for the opponent. As harsh as it may sound for them, SKT T1 exhibited many uncharacteristic mistakes that could only stem from hubris. In Game 1, Faker was manhandled by Trick in the early laning phase. Knowing this fact, Faker should've had greater respect for early ganks when Trick was on his favorite, not to mention top tier, champion, Lee Sin.

To this date, the 2v2 fight in the top lane still makes me scratch my head. Ivern excels in controlling the macro game, whereas Lee Sin is specialized in teamfights. Additionally, Expect is renowned top laner as far as Gangplank is concerned. The only reason I could think of that SKT T1 went ahead with the fight was baseless confidence thinking, "It will be good enough."

▲ Pivotal teamfight which set the tone for the rest of the game.

And the results are in. Perkz proved that he could hold his own against Faker, if not better in some circumstances. Trick’s Lee Sin showcased his prowess as the best jungler in EU, while Zven’s Kog’Maw still pulled the weight without sturdy champions like Braum to babysit him. The MSI finals itself ended in favor of SKT T1, who came back to their senses just the right time, but this game gave us an important lesson: Even gods bleed when caught off guard.

▣ Other MSI 2017 Articles

- [Match Report] SKT vs FW Match Analysis #4: The Art of Draft
- [Interview] SKT Peanut: "All I needed to do was just focus on my plays"
- [Interview] G2 Mithy: "This is the G2 that we wanted to be. No more memes and no more curse."
- [News] Riot on the invasion of a spectator: "This breach is an unacceptable issue"
- [News] SKT Jaewan "Wolf" Lee earned his first MSI MVP award
- [Interview] SKT Coach Kkoma on Peanut-Huni: "They can do better, so I'll make them do better."
- [Interview] SKT T1 Faker: "Match against G2 was hard, my performance also wasn't that good"