The third week of the LEC Winter Split continues with an important matchup between SK Gaming and Team Vitality. Aggressive from the start of the match with a good draft and a good game plan, Nisky and his team interrupted Vitality’s winning streak and validated their qualification to the LEC Winter Split playoffs.
SK Gaming provides the essentials
As we continue the LEC Winter Split in this third and final week of the regular season, one key matchup grabs attention: Team Vitality against SK Gaming. The encounter promises to be a real barometer for the two teams, each having experienced varying fortunes in the previous weeks. This match between Team Vitality and SK Gaming is much more than just a meeting; It presents a major challenge to both structures. For Vitality, this is an opportunity to confirm its rebirth and continue its rise in the rankings. For SK Gaming, it’s all about returning to their early form and showing that they are serious title contenders.
Team Vitality, currently sixth in the general classification and tied with MAD Lions KOI, managed to reverse the trend after a very difficult start to the season. With three wins in six games and a three-game winning streak, the team showed an impressive surge in week two. Their level of play has clearly improved compared to the first week, making them a team to watch closely in these final stages.
On the other hand, SK Gaming are in second place overall with teams like Fnatic, G2 Esports and Team Heretics, with a total of four wins in six matches. After an exemplary start to the season, the German team faced difficulties in the second week, suffering setbacks against the rising Heretics and a particularly successful team BDS. These results show that, despite a good start, SK Gaming still has to prove its relevance against increasingly sharp opponents.
On the way to the playoffs
The game between SK Gaming and Team Vitality opens on Summoner’s Rift, with a dynamic laning phase. Nisky, along with his teammates, immediately imposes strong pressure in the midlane where he begins to eliminate his direct opponent. However, in his desire to dominate and play aggressively, Nisky was surprised and conceded the first blood of the game. Despite this drawback, SK Gaming has maintained an advantage in terms of gold, with all of their lanes performing positively. The German team kept a strong pace in the game, managing to destroy the first turret before the 15 minute mark, and taking the first significant advantage for the victory. Vitality, for their part, seems to lag a bit as the mid game approaches. They see their opponents increase the distance in terms of gold and gain control of the map. SK Gaming, decisive and ruthless, dominated a big team fight before the 20th minute of the game, thus solidifying their dominant position in the game.
SK has now amassed a huge lead of about 6K gold over Vitality, which also suffers from a significant lag in terms of level. This situation leads to a particularly marked snowball in favor of the German team, which imposes an intensive and relentless pace. Team Vitality found themselves in trouble, struggling to deal with the damage inflicted by SK and escape their base despite an organized defense. As the game approaches the 25th minute, the pace of the game calms down a bit, but SK Gaming continues to play aggressively. This strategy pays off, allowing you to secure the first move of the game. With the Baron buff, Nisky and his team push their lane advantage, closing in on Vitality’s base to begin the siege.
However, in an unexpected twist, as SK tries to infiltrate the opponent’s base, they find themselves knocked out in a team fight, shutting down the Vitals who take the opportunity to secure the third dragon. This unexpected victory gives a moment of respite of vitality in a game dominated by SK so far. Despite this surge, SK Gaming maintains its lead and consolidates its control by capturing second place. A crucial team fight takes place in the midlane, where SK Gaming skillfully exploits several positioning errors from Vitality. With this teamfight win, SK Gaming ended the game in their favor, thus ensuring their spot in the remainder of the Winter Split.
Week 3 Match Results – Day 1
27 January Saturday
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finish
Team spirit
SK Gaming
regular season
-
finish
Team heretics
BDS
regular season
-
finish
obsessed
MAD Lions KOI
regular season
-
finish
GIANTX
G2 Esports
regular season
-
finish
Carmine Corp
snap
regular season
2024 LEC Regular Season Standings
| order | teams | victories | Defeat |
| 1 | Team BDS (Qualification) | 6 | 1 |
| 2 | G2 Esports (Qualified) | 5 | 2 |
| – | SK Gaming (Qualification) | 5 | 2 |
| 4 | Fanatic (Qualified) | 4 | 3 |
| – | MAD Lions KOI (Qualification) | 4 | 3 |
| – | Team Renegade (Qualification) | 4 | 3 |
| 7 | Team spirit | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | GIANTX | 2 | 5 |
| – | snap | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Carmine Corp (Limited) | 0 | 7 |