LCS Summer 2020: Reacting to the 10 MVP Finalists

Riot and the LCS recently announced the 10 players who are finalists for the MVP voting.

Today, the LCS announced the ten players from the Summer Split who got the most votes in the MVP race. Included among them are a few familiar faces, including the reigning MVP Blaber and former MVPs Bjergsen and CoreJJ, along with some players well overdue to get their first MVP. Let’s take a look at all 10 MVP candidates and see which ones, in my opinion, deserve the honor.

Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg (Mid, TSM)

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Look Bjergsen has unquestionably been TSM’s best player this year and in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he has not had a flawless summer and had a few really rough games when the team was struggling during the middle of the split. He recovered nicely, yes, and I have no problem with him making the top ten among voters. I just don’t think he will get the nod or, frankly, deserves to.

Robert “Blaber” Huang (Jungle, C9)

The Spring Split MVP is back and deservedly so after a strong Summer Split. While C9 doesn’t look like the same dominant team they were in spring, Blaber remains a massive step above the other LCS junglers. The gap has closed, yes, but Blaber deserves this top ten spot and probably should remain on this list down to the final five or three.

Can “Closer” Çelik (Jungle, Golden Guardians)

Sort of similar to Bjergsen, Closer gets a lot of credit for carrying his uneven team for most of the split. I think his argument is a lot stronger than Bjergsen’s because I had Closer as my number two-rated jungler while Bjergsen was my number three mid. Closer deserves the top ten spot but, like Bjergsen, I don’t think he deserves to be much higher.

Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in (Support, Team Liquid)

Another former MVP, I warned that CoreJJ would probably get a lot of MVP votes despite the fact that he is statistically one of the weakest candidates of the ten. I get having him in the top ten and maybe even the top five, even if that’s not my personal preference. If he makes top three or, god forbid, wins the whole thing though…

Jung “Impact” Eon-yeong (Top, Team Liquid)

Of all the other candidates, I could see the argument even if I disagree. But how in the world can anyone look at Impact’s level of play and tell me he deserves any MVP votes. Impact is a serviceable top laner, at best, but has been easily below average for most of the last two years. Giving him the nod over contemporaries like Colin “Solo” Earnest or Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell is preposterous. No way he deserves MVP consideration at all.

Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen (Mid, Team Liquid)

Of the three TL players that are up for MVP, Jensen is the most palatable and deserving MVP choice (no love for Edward “Tactical” Ra though?). He has been consistently one of the strongest mid laners throughout the summer and has stepped up in the vacuum of losing Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng. Easily a top five candidate and I wouldn’t hate it at all if he ended up in the top three finalists.

Eric “Licorice” Ritchie (Top, Cloud9)

The most underrated player, maybe in the league, I’m glad that Licorice got the respect and recognition for his immaculate top lane play. Unfortunately, sloppiness in some spots and C9’s downfall will probably cause him to be bounced before the top five and that’s probably for the best. Still, Licorice deserves the recognition he’s getting.

Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage (Mid, FlyQuest)

Oh I see there are some fellow people of culture voting. PoE has been the best mid laner in North America for a couple of years, to me, but he hasn’t yet gotten the credit he deserves. Unfortunately, I see him falling out when the MVP race gets down to the top five, but I would have him there and perhaps making a push for my top three.

Lucas “Santorin” Tao Kilmer Larsen (Jungle, FlyQuest)

Santorin’s a bit of a “softer” MVP candidate. Not quite so bad that I flame the selection like Impact but not so good that I’m going to argue vigorously for his candidacy. I’m fine with him getting top ten for MVP votes due to his solid play this year, but when he drops ahead of the top five I won’t be too shocked. Or disappointed.

Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho (Top, 100 Theives)

A controversial selection to most, but no player in the LCS did more while being surrounded by less than Ssumday. He straight-up carried 100 Thieves into playoffs with mediocre-to-awful talent all around him this summer. I don’t think he’ll make top five, but I would have him in my top three because he meets the definition of value. 100 Thieves wouldn’t be remotely competitive without him.