5 Best Series in Worlds History | LoL eSports

As soon as the Group Stage ends at Worlds, the competition reaches another level. No more low tier teams, only the best teams in the world remain. And a lot of the time, it shows in the level of the playoff matchups.

Here are the Top 5 Playoff Series in Worlds History.

5. SKT vs Najin Black Sword (2013 Semi-Finals)

In 2013, the all Korean semifinal between SKT and Najin Black Sword was a nail biter back and forth. It started well for Najin as Nagne’s explosive AP Gragas led the way to a 1-0 series lead. Then, after a convincing win in game two for SKT, Faker attempted to pull out a comeback victory in game 3. His Ahri wasn’t enough however as SKT would require back to wins to reach the finals. The hundred acre bot lane went wild in the penultimate contest and in the final game, it was Faker who came through with another stellar outplay.

4. CLG EU vs World Elite (2012 Quarterfinals)

Not many teams were more iconic in season two than World Elite and CLG EU. Each led by several star players, the two teams met in the Bo3 quarterfinals. In game 1, World Elite pushed through the patented stall tactics of CLG EU to secure a series lead. The next two games were a different story as Froggen kept rolling out Karthus and delivered insane late game damage. In a couple of marathons, team fights over Froggen’s body went the way of CLG EU as they pulled off the reverse sweep with a pair of comeback wins.

3. Cloud9 vs. Samsung Blue (2014 Quarterfinals)

Anytime a North American team goes up against Korea, they’re viewed as hefty underdogs.. but Cloud9 didn’t seem to care against top Korean seed Samsung Blue. In the 2014 quarterfinals, Cloud9 came out swinging. Sneaky looked inhuman in game one as he racked up 15 kills with Lucian. Of course, Samsung battled back winning the next two games but C9 showed that they could compete with Samsung. And of course, who could forget Hai’s Metal Gear Solid attempt in game 4. The strange strategy nearly opened up baron for C9 but eventually it would be Samsung to close out the series.

2. SKTelecom vs Samsung Galaxy (2016 Finals)

Without a doubt, the best finals in Worlds history came in 2016. The series between Samsung and SKT opened with an intense base-breaking game one. SKT then doubled up their lead as Faker’s Ryze rolled over Samsung. Staring are a potential sweep, Samsung started off game three with a 10k gold deficit, but a 30 minute baron stop by Ruler and Ambition brought them back into the series. An elder drake steal by Ambition eventually led Samsung to the 70+ minute win. Even game 4 lasted for 46 minutes before Samsung, led by Ruler’s Jhin, could even up the series. Eventually, SKT would avoid the reverse sweep by winning another lengthy contest.

1. SKT vs ROX Tigers (2016 Semifinals)

The match that set up that insane grand final was even crazier. After winning the first game, SKT subbed in Blank for Bengi and the ROX Tigers brought out their support Miss Fortune to counteract the Zyra. The Pray and Gorilla bot lane dominated game two with the help of Peanut’s aggressive style, and Pray would eventually lock out the game with an insane Ashe arrow. Game 3 was a lot of the same as Pray and Peanut controlled SKT and prevented a comeback with a clutch 2v4. Now with their back up against the wall, Bengi returned for SKT and did so on a champ that he had never played pro, Nidalee. Even though the jungle pick was accidental, the swap fuelled SKT to an even series. In game 5, Bengi and Peanut went back and forth, until a bloody baron fight went SKT’s way.​

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All League of Legends footage courtesy of Riot Games.

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