The LCK Playoffs reach their peak on April 13. We’re in for a thrilling SKT T1 vs. Griffin series, and it’s shaping up to be the most exciting match of the season. With that in mind, let’s preview away.
As for how we got here, SKT T1 made a statement with their 3-0 victory over Kingzone. Their early game is beyond explosive, and SKT have no issues taking slight leads and snowballing them into crushing advantages. That’s not their only strength either. SKT T1 have the sharpest macro in the region. Hence, they tend to find themselves several steps ahead in the late game.
The LCK Superteam
Barring a momentary stumble in 2018, SKT T1 have always been at the top of their region. Faker is the root cause of that success. SKT’s ace is the definition of an unstoppable object. And his presence alone gives his team a complete stranglehold over the mid lane.
This year, however, SKT managed to sign several players with the brains and brawn to challenge their superstar. For instance, Teddy is an absolute monster in the marksman position, and his teamfighting presence is so overwhelming that he manages to stand out even on the stacked SKT T1 roster. The same applies to Mata, a seasoned veteran who leads his teammates into battle through a combination of roaming, shot calling, and vision control. Throw in two daring playmakers in Khan and Clid, and it’s a world-class lineup.
Then, it’s difficult to gauge Griffin’s strength. They towered above the competition for the vast majority of the split, but they fell into a slump toward the end of the regular season. Still, Griffin have already established themselves as a team of endless creativity and relentless aggression. These qualities will definitely shine in the LCK Finals.
The Unstable Element
If we had to pick one player that makes Griffin tick, it’s Tarzan. Griffin’s jungler is downright overwhelming in his position, and it’s common to see him running circles around opponents in the early game and solo carrying teamfights later on. Chovy also deserves a separate mention. Granted, he didn’t have the best showings toward the end of the regular season, but his razor-sharp mechanics and instinctual game sense make him one of the best mid laners in the region.
Griffin’s side lanes pale in comparison to SKT’s though. Sword took a heavy hit from the recent balance changes, as his champion pool is effectively the size of a puddle. And while Viper didn’t suffer as much, the fact that the meta pushed out his mage and bruiser pocket picks means he’s in for an uphill battle in this matchup. Of course, Lehends is still one of the most explosive playmakers in the league, but it remains to be seen whether he can carry Griffin’s bot lane.
PREDICTION: SKT T1 will crush Griffin to win this LCK Finals series 3-1.
Image credit: LCK/Riot Games
