LCS Spring Split 2020: Playoff Scenarios Heading into Week 9

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Detroit, Michigan – August 25: — during the 2019 League of Legends LCS Summer Finals at Little Caesars Arena on August 25, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Tina Jo/Riot Games) /

The LCS Playoff race is heating up! Here’s our look at each team’s playoff qualification scenario heading into Week 9 of the Spring Split.

The LCS is down to its final week of regular season play this week. As we discussed last week, no team other than Cloud9 was locked into the playoffs after seven weeks of play. Now with just two games to go for each team, we have a bit clearer of a picture to see who will make the playoffs.

1. Cloud9 (15-1)

It was business as usual for Cloud9 as they went 2-0 during week 8 to advance to 15-1. They just continue to distance themselves from the rest of the LCS pack as the best team this split. Though they can still knock out rival Team Liquid from the playoffs by beating them during week nine.

2. Evil Geniuses (9-7)

After a 2-0 Week Eight Evil Geniuses has now won five in a row to place themselves in the fight for the second seed, tied with TSM and Flyquest. Should tiebreakers come into play for the second seed, Evil Geniuses would win head to head over Flyquest at 2-0, but fall to TSM 0-2. If Evil Geniuses lose both games this weekend it could affect whether they make playoffs at all, but I still think even with nine wins now they should be safe to make the playoffs.

3. Flyquest (9-7)

The second of the LCS second-place tie teams, FlyQuest went 1-1 during Week Eight to keep their position in the standings. Evil Geniuses could steal the second seed from them thanks to a better head-to-head matchup record despite the fact the teams are tied at 9-7 records.

Flyquest has Team Liquid on Saturday and they could eliminate them from the playoff race. They’ll also face the Golden Guardians in their other Week Nine matchup, giving them the potential to finish with 11 wins and be comfortably in the playoffs. Though a tiebreaker with TSM could happen if both teams finish with the same number of wins for one of the upper seeds in the bracket.

4. TSM (9-7)

TSM also had a 1-1 week matching Flyquest to keep up in the race for second place. TSM hasn’t locked in a playoff spot quite yet but does have enough wins to be considered a safe bet to make it in.

It also helps TSM’s potential seeding that they hold a 2-0 head to head record against Evil Geniuses that sit tied with them in the standings at the moment. With 100 Thieves and Dignitas remaining on the schedule it looks likely for TSM to finish with 11 wins and finish the split anywhere from the second to the fourth seed.

5. 100 Thieves (8-8)

100 Thieves had a 1-1 week to stay in the hunt after an upset win over Flyquest. If they can go 2-0 this week with wins over CLG and TSM they could still be in the mix for the second seed.

100 Thieves would have to play tiebreakers with EG above them and Immortals below them in the current standings if they finish tied with either team. 100 Thieves could also have to face Flyquest and TSM in tiebreakers if they finish the week 2-0 and threaten the number two seed.

It would be quite the heist, but 100 Thieves seem to have the most to play for this weekend. As a team that most picked to be the last team in, or the first team out of the playoffs winning the second seed would be quite an accomplishment.

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