Kings fall and Gods rise – Griffin decimates Gen.G at Kespa Cup 2018
By Michael Salt
Old blood stains the earth, a sword leveled at the throat of a vanquished foe. Former World Champions Gen.G lay on their backs defeated by the New Gods of Korea. All hail Griffin, all hail a new age of our Korean overlords beginning with a Kespa Cup victory.
Entering Game 1 of the Kespa Cup final, there is a palpable sense of tension in the air. Despite Gen.G seeing off top contenders Kingzone Dragon X and KT Rolster fairly convincingly – 2:0 and 3:1 respectively – the general consensus for the day was that young guns Griffin would come in and sweep Gen.G.
Gen.G were the gatekeepers of the 2018 World Championship and they held Griffin at bay, preventing them from eviscerating everyone on the world stage. Instead, Griffin sat at home and watched the team that stopped them going to Worlds go 1-5 in the group stage, losing to North American and European 3rd seeds.
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The Kespa Cup would be the first step to righting that wrong. Sure it wasn’t an LCK playoffs game and in the grand scheme of things a relatively low-stakes match, but this series was personal. This would begin the vindication of Griffin and set them back on their course of dominating the LCK going forward in 2019.
The first game was relatively competitive with Gen.G securing the first turret and Herald, putting them at a tight 1400 gold lead at 25 minutes. Unfortunately, Gen.G were unable to keep this pressure up and transition the gold lead into a win. Griffin secured the Baron followed by a big team fight in the mid lane where Griffin clinched a staggered ace, ending the game off of a 4-man Baron-empowered push down the mid lane.
The second game was also quite competitive despite Griffin finding the first turret, Dragon, Baron & Herald. This time it was Griffin who found themselves with a meager 1500 gold lead at 25 minutes. But the Baron fight at 25:50 was where it all fell apart.
Griffin mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon found his opening on Irelia and the rest of Griffin followed suit through Gen.G’s top-side jungle. Game 2 ended in a similar fashion to the 1st; a Baron-empowered push in the mid lane took us to match point.
And it was as the second defeat screen flashed before Gen.G’s eyes that the tilt took over
Game 3 began with a bang. Griffin AD Carry Park “Viper” Do-hyeon pulled out a spicy pick with Jayce ADC, a pick that was only played once in LCK Summer 2018. This alone was cause for concern, with some spectators wondering if Viper’s cockiness was about to cost his team the game? Well despite his soon to be 1/2/1 scoreline he didn’t.
Griffin top laner Choi “Sword” Sung-won and Chovy put the entire team upon their backs and tore apart Gen.G with the combined power of Urgot and Irelia. Despite the best effort of Gen.G ADC Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk, nothing could stop the Griffin powerhouse.
Griffin opened up both the top and bottom lanes and split-pushed their way to victory through yet another Baron-empowered push. Gen.G’s death knell rang to the tune of Chovy and Lee “Tarzan” Seung-yong’s combined ultimates locking down and melting through Ruler’s Ezreal.
Next. Team Solo Mid? Not if Smoothie have anything to say about it.. dark
With Griffin bringing both Sejuani and Braum to that last game, revenge was certainly served cold. The gatekeepers of Worlds were face up on their backs defeated, humiliated at the hands of Griffin. And this was just a taste of what’s to come.
To every team participating in LCK 2019 (including you SKT) I wish you all luck because Griffin tore undefeated through every team at the Kespa Cup 2018. And the LCK trophy is next.
Don’t agree? Believe that Faker and the revitalized SKT roster will smack these jumped up posers back down to where they belong? Who will top the LCK in Spring? Let us know in the comments!