League of Legends LEC playoff preview: is there a chance for Schalke?
By Josh Tyler
Bot Lane
ADC: Elias “Upset” Lipp vs. Martin “Rekkles” Larsson
Support: Lee “Ignar” Dong-geun vs. Zdravets “Hylissang” Iliev Galabov
On one side of the match-up, perhaps the greatest western AD Carry ever. Rekkles had perhaps his worth split in terms of laning stats (averaging a 220g, 40 XP, and 3.4 CS deficit at 10). Yes, he’s been exceptional in terms of KDA stats (a ridiculous 6.33 aKDA) but it’s increasingly come at the expense of his damage output (a below-average 467 aDPM) and kill participation (99% aKP).
Upset, meanwhile, has done everything in his power to usurp the throne that Rekkles vacated during the summer split. While Rekkles was working to protect the KDA, Upset “sacrificed” his numbers (he still posted a 5.08 aKDA) for higher damage (564 aDPM, second among ADCs) and helping his team in team fights (119% adjusted kill participation led the league).
Upset is paired with the guy that I had rated as the best support in the LEC for most of the season (he was eventually passed by Mikyx, but still posted stellar numbers). Ignar leads all LEC members in XP differential at 10, adjusted KDA (4.33), adjusted KP (118%), and is second in vision score per minute (2.54). Compare that to his lane opponent, Hylissang, who had one of the worst vision scores per minute among LEC supports (2.16 VSPM) and this shocking looks like a matchup that Schalke should be heavily favored in.
Advantage: Schalke