Relive the Twitter history of SKT’s dramatic, five-map win over ROX Tigers.
What. A. Match. In what many, including this blog, called the most highly anticipated match of Worlds, SKT Telecom T1 took down ROX Tigers in a dramatic five-game series. It was one of, if not the, most grueling, exciting, well-played matches in the history of Worlds. Twitter was not silent during the proceedings. How crazy did it get? ROX support Kang “GorillA” Beom-hyeong played support Miss Fortune in two games — both ROX victories! Let’s dive in for a curated view at our Twitter feed during and after the match.
Game 1: Duke’s split push and Faker’s Orianna are too much for ROX to overcome
Game 1 was probably the tamest affair. ROX got a lead but SKT’s solo laners Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and Lee “Duke” Ho-Seong pushed in their lanes and never relinquished that pressure.
Elder Drake and a huge Shockwave by Faker! #Worlds https://t.co/iZsYAqsgTX
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 21, 2016
It’s crazy how SKT can just hang around and have that one objective fight that turns everything. But Game 1 was tame compared to what GorillA would unleash in Game 2:
Games 2 and 3: Miss Fortune Support
AP support MF?!?!?! YAAAAAAAAASSSSS #Worlds
— James Dash (@JamesDash) October 21, 2016
To our knowledge, GorillA has never played MF support in solo queue. There’s no inkling of him playing this anywhere. But he paired it with Kim “Pray” Jong-in’s Ashe to devastating effect. MF’s E with slow into Ashe Arrow into Bullet Time. Rinse. Repeat. They dumpstered the SKT bot lane and roamed for picks all over the map. SKT never found an answer.
.@LOL_Tigers lock in support Miss Fortune #Worlds https://t.co/QQJQtvdliy pic.twitter.com/rdLYDmXOMd
— Twitch Esports (@TwitchEsports) October 21, 2016
What is happening? MF support??
— Marcin Jankowski (@JankosLoL) October 21, 2016
ROX GorillA surprised the world with his support Miss Fortune.
— LolKing.net (@LolKing) October 22, 2016
(We don't recommend playing this in ranked!)https://t.co/XURSrkFjDu pic.twitter.com/9oMIuapwrm
The shock quickly turned into awe.
MF support wins against Faker, it's the end of the world
— Marcin Jankowski (@JankosLoL) October 22, 2016
GorillA's solo queue doesn't have any Miss Fortune on it. Love how much they've hidden this pick!
— Aidan 'Zirene' Moon (@Zirene) October 22, 2016
Respect to GorillA for managing to innovate every single Worlds.
— Thorin (@Thorin) October 22, 2016
SKT never found an answer for that bot lane combo and ROX was styling.
#Worlds pic.twitter.com/y3qfb6ivkp
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 21, 2016
Bengi comes in. Bengi plays Nidalee. Chaos ensues.
A lot of buzz was created this spring when SKT benched stalwart, veteran jungler Bae “Bengi” Seong-ung for Kang “Blank” Sung-gu. The reason was Blank’s superior champion pool and mechanics. One of those champions that Blank had and Bengi never, ever played? Nidalee.
So SKT brought Bengi in to save their season. And needing to ban MF, they inadvertently left Nidalee up.
You vs. the guy she told you not to worry about #Worlds pic.twitter.com/iUfOsdNVhx
— Seth King (@AchiliosCasts) October 22, 2016
Bengi: Yeah pick me Nidalee guys.
— Aidan 'Zirene' Moon (@Zirene) October 22, 2016
Kkoma: Do it
43 minutes later as ROXs nexus explodes--
Bengi: /all first time Nid lul#Worlds @lolesports
We find out after the match that the Nidalee pick was a mistake. KkOma screwed up by leaving Nidalee un-banned. That’s right. Bengi dominated on a champion he wasn’t even supposed to play:
Still, Nidalle aside, SKT’s Game 4 draft was almost universally derided. Including by us. They had no damage aside from Bae “Bang” Jun-sik’s Jhin. And though MF was banned, Pray was winning that matchup.
It all rided on Bengi. The only two-time World Champ other than Faker. And the man delivered. Faker, like he did in every game in the series, got mid control. And Bengi took it from there:
First Blood for Faker in Game 4! #Worlds https://t.co/OpRgJWQHal
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 22, 2016
KkOma’s reaciton to Bengi saving his (and SKT’s) bacon:
I'm Hungry ! #SKTWIN #Worlds pic.twitter.com/NRFe0towfM
— T1 LoL (@T1LoL) October 22, 2016
It all came down to Game 5
ROX again took a lead. SKT again weathered it. A teamfight at Baron turned the tide and ROX still didn’t have an answer to Faker’s Orianna or SKT’s teamfight prowess. After showing his proficiency on Nidalee, Bengi took away Han “Peanut” Wang-ho’s Lee Sin and had another dominant game.
The game was pretty even but that SKT late-game…
Baron for @LOL_Tigers, but @sktelecom_t1 pick up 4 kills in return! #Worlds https://t.co/E98TP1TJJC
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 22, 2016
Faker survives! #WorldsBigPlays https://t.co/xvtjAZKtl7
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 22, 2016
One, two, three people — it doesn’t matter. 2-1 deficit against match point? Doesn’t matter either. Faker and SKT just wouldn’t go down.
SKT win it again
.@sktelecom_t1 win in a Semifinal for the ages #Worlds https://t.co/wrLXr4KQrt pic.twitter.com/ve67SGslNt
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 22, 2016
Player of the series: Bengi! #Worlds pic.twitter.com/WfuQK5AEEB
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 22, 2016
SKT truly are the most amazing @LeagueOfLegends team that we have ever wtinessed. #Worlds
— Trevor Henry (@Quickshot) October 22, 2016
what a series
— Froggen (@Froggen) October 22, 2016
The outpouring of support for ROX, one of LoL Esports most beloved, joyful, well-liked teams
Was really heartwarming hearing the crowd chant for Peanut, especially after my interviews with him. Proud of the NA audience. #Worlds
— Travis Gafford (@TravisGafford) October 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/BasedGodNorthy/status/789674833575550977
But in the end, hail to the victors
Some thought Smeb was #1, but this win tonight says otherwise. #Worlds pic.twitter.com/EC01bnN6zk
— ESPN Esports (@ESPN_Esports) October 22, 2016
Thank goodness for social media being a thing during one of the greatest series League of Legends will ever see.
Let’s hope the finals can be even half as good as SKT vs. ROX.
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