LCS Summer finals matchup confirmed after intense semis
Riot GamesThe finals for the LCS Summer Playoffs 2019 are set after an intense round of semi-final matches.
Cloud9 and Team Liquid will face off in a rematch of the 2018 Summer finals after they defeated Counter Logic Gaming and Clutch Gaming in their respective finals.
The first semi-final saw Cloud9 dominate CLG in the first two games and for most of the third, but a miraculous base defence kicked off an incredible come-back that extended the series for CLG. Cloud9 quickly reclaimed control, however, closing out the match 3-1.
It was a surprisingly tougher affair for favorites Team Liquid in the semi-finals, who found themselves facing much stiffer resistance in Clutch Gaming than many might have expected. Liquid struck first, but Clutch went blow-for-blow all the way to a fifth game, which TL won to clinch their finals spot.
The win over Clutch marks Team Liquid’s fourth consecutive appearance in the LCS finals, with the chance to secure as many trophies. If TL emerge victorious from their match with Cloud9, they’ll be the first organization to win four titles back-to-back, despite having never won prior to 2018.
No matter who wins in the final, however, both teams are locked in for the World Championship. The victor will secure the first seed from North America, while the loser will be guaranteed the second seed based on championship points.
Clutch Gaming and CLG will face off in the third-place decider match. The series is not without significance, as the winner will not only score a podium finish in LCS Summer, but also secure a greater number of championship points and therefore avoid the first match of the Regional Qualifier gauntlet.
Neither team can secure enough championship points to advance directly to the Regional Qualifier final, however, as that spot will be held by TSM, whose second-place finish in Spring secures them the most points behind Team Liquid and Cloud9 despite their quarter-final exit in the Summer playoffs.
LCS Summer 2019 Finals schedule
Match | Date | PDT | EDT | BST |
---|---|---|---|---|
CLG vs Clutch Gaming | Saturday, August 24 | 2 PM | 5 PM | 10 PM |
Team Liquid vs Cloud9 | Sunday, August 25 | 12 PM | 3 PM | 8 PM |