In today's encounter between #Vitality and #KOI, the first spot in the 2023 LEC Winter Split playoff stage was on the line, and KOI snatched it up right away.
With two swift victories, KOI secured a spot in the top four and became the first team to go through the opening round of the #LEC brand-new playoff bracket.
The Road To Playoffs
The LEC entirely changed its format over the winter, and the modifications have already proven beneficial. The “group stage” of the Winter Split has thus far had a playoff atmosphere, with each best-of-three series giving teams the impression that their split actually may be on the line, despite the playoff stage of each split having fewer opponents.
Additionally, the inclusion of best-of series throughout the regular season enables teams who may have underperformed during the best-of-one round-robin portion of the schedule to rebound in a new setting. In the instance of KOI, the team finished 4-5 in the first phase of the split, which contrasts sharply with their run to the LEC championship as Rogue last summer.
However, they quickly breezed through their two structured series in the group stage.
In the second game of the match, which appeared to be all but a formality for KOI when they shot out to an exponential gold lead just a few minion waves into the game, KOI looked maybe their best they have all season.
In game two, KOI scored three fast kills in the bottom lane before the five-minute mark, which allowed them to quickly grow their lead. In game two, KOI was playing flawlessly up until the 15th minute, when Vitality unexpectedly won a teamfight while down by 5,000 gold.
More Action Until The Playoffs
Even though we haven't yet seen any losers bracket matches, the possibility of impending elimination heightens the tension in each contest.
Following their loss tonight, Vitality will go into Group A's losers bracket where they will play the winner of the Heretics/SK Gaming match the following week in a tense advance-or-go-home series.
Later on in the tournament, MAD Lions and G2 Esports, the top two teams in Group B, will play another playoff qualifying match.
