LCS Summer 2020 Power Rankings Week 7: Chaos is a Ladder

LCS Summer 2020 Week 7 is in the books, here is where the teams sit in our LCS power rankings.

3. TSM (9-5)

Elo: 409 (+15)

Remaining schedule: Evil Geniuses, C9, Golden Guardians, Team Liquid
Average elo of remaining opponents: 422

Put up or shut up time for TSM, who enter the final two weeks of the season with the second-hardest remaining schedule. Thankfully, they managed to do their job this weekend, beating Dignitas and CLG to bring their win total to nine, which mathematically clinched them a playoff spot.

Though the road ahead is tough, they have also clinched a spot in the upper bracket because CLG and 100 Thieves can only tie with TSM, who owns the season tiebreaker over both teams. TSM could, theoretically, lose out and be forced into an unfavorable matchup as far as side selection and a tough first round opponent like FlyQuest. If, however, they can take the two winnable games over EG and GGS they’ll likely be in a strong spot. And if they can upset either C9 or TL, maybe they have an outside shot at a first-round bye.

Playoff chances: CLINCHED
Upper bracket chances: CLINCHED
First-round bye chances: 25%

2. Cloud9 (11-3)

Elo: 473 (-14)

Remaining schedule: Golden Guardians, TSM, Dignitas, CLG
Average elo of remaining opponents: 340

Another rough weekend for Cloud9, who lost the big head-to-head matchup against Team Liquid and now sit tied for first place in the LCS instead of owning the spot outright, putting Team Liquid in a fight with TSM and FlyQuest for that other first-round bye.

While that bye is almost certainly locked up for C9 based on their two-game lead over TSM and the fact that they will play their long-time rivals this week, Cloud9 will certainly want to re-establish themselves entering the playoffs. In spring, they were an unquestioned juggernaut, an unstoppable force. Now, with a 2-2 record in their last four, they look very much like a mortal team.

Playoff chances: CLINCHED
Upper bracket chances: CLINCHED
First-round bye chances: 75%

1. Team Liquid (11-3)

Elo: 484 (-11)

Remaining schedule: Dignitas, CLG, Immortals, TSM
Average elo of remaining opponents: 319

They took down Cloud9 to hold onto a share of first place and are now facing down the easiest remaining schedule in the league. The only game I could even comprehend TL losing down the stretch is that final match against TSM, and even then I think Liquid is heavily-favored based on how solid their drafts have been (and how questionable TSM’s have been).

I see no world in which TL does not get a first-round bye, has a very strong shot at winning Summer 2020, and making a trip to Worlds. For a team that finished 9th in the spring, traded away (arguably) their best player, and re-set their entire coaching structure, that’s pretty damn impressive.

Playoff chances: CLINCHED
Upper bracket chances: CLINCHED
First-round bye chances: 90%