“Can trials truly have any meaning for a player like this?”
“Winning the VLL alongside LCK, securing first place in the CK regular season and promotion to LCK, and even achieving first place in the LCK regular season. This player truly has an illustrious career!”
“A player who surpasses any imagined picks, turning the audience’s imagination into reality.”
“Which player would ever think of as a rookie? Now, the term ‘veteran’ fits without any oddness – introducing Para of ARK!”
“Starting with the team captains’ greetings, let’s dive into the game!”
“Considering today’s set, how would you predict the ban and pick phase?”
“It’s hard to imagine, but the pressure of the finals can be overwhelming, so the first set may be about gauging each other.”
“Gauging each other… so, should we expect all the most-played champions to be banned?”
“Sometimes we used to see ban strategies like baiting counters, but it might be hard to see that today… what is this?!”
“Did YK finally lose it?”
“With ARK on the blue side and having the first pick, are they really going to leave Aatrox open?”
“But they banned K’Sante though.”
“Para’s Yune is also open now?”
“They banned K’Sante, but both Aatrox and Yune remain open?”
“In that case, there’s no reason for ARK, who picked blue side and has ARK’s first pick, not to take Aatrox, especially since it was the card that helped them defeat YK in the last Round 3!”
“While Yune is Para’s most-played champ… YK has taken Yune!”
“Are you serious?”
“Aatrox as bait and Yune to counter it?”
“Isn’t that just setting themselves up for failure?”
“True, Aatrox’s base stats have skyrocketed, and Yune struggles to penetrate those stats.”
“It seems like Mid Yune could be chosen as a counter card against Top Aatrox.”
“While Yune’s skill set can certainly deal with Aatrox, the mid-game advantages on the side might be more favorable. That said, things have changed.”
“The often-mentioned Shadow Step and Steel Tempest boots received significant buffs, and Aatrox also saw a boost in base stats.”
“Still, if they have that much confidence, maybe it’s deliberate.”
“In the game, exactly what kind of play they’ll bring out will be what’s most important.”
*
“Opponent let Aatrox open?”
“Did they prepare a counter?”
“Nevertheless, we need to play.”
The first set’s ban and pick phase went differently from our expectations as the opponent left Aatrox open.
We clearly thought today that K’Sante and Aatrox would both be banned in the Top lane.
It seemed that they had some hidden card.
“Let’s just go with the first pick.”
When we chose Aatrox with our first pick, the opponent selected Yune.
Certainly, it’s a matchup where the skillsets allow for counters.
“Still, Yune hasn’t proven to be an exceptional champion in team fights.”
Even in the professional level where champions are specifically called out, pulling Yune into a 5v5 can go way beyond anyone’s imagination.
No matter how much you use E to burst forward, being eliminated within a second is quite common.
A similar issue exists with champions like Irelia.
“They’ve also picked Sejuani.”
“It looks like Seju and Yune will have synergy.”
In a meta where carnivorous AD junglers have the upper hand, it seems like an odd choice.
“If this goes on, the opposing team could have considerable value.”
“It might be tough on the side lanes.”
“West Ha, anything you want to do?”
Following the selection of Aatrox, our jungler chose Lisim. The coach then suggested focusing on building the upper half of the team first.
A champion we could reasonably choose here would be:
“Azir, Taliyah, Orianna.”
Since two AD picks came out in the top and jungle, I need to fill the AP role in this situation.
Given that this is the first set of the finals, I thought it wise to go with a stable pick.
“I’ll take Azir.”
The moment I selected Azir, the opponent quickly picked Orianna as if they were waiting for it.
“It looks like bottom lane will be split between Lissandra and Aphelios.”
“They might go for Lucian.”
“Alternatively, they might get it since the enemy has Seju.”
Despite those predictions, the opponent swiftly chose Lucian.
Since both Jinx and Zeri were banned, we selected the duo Aphelios and Lulu for our bot lane, and they took the remaining champion, Nyami.
TOP: Aatrox
JG: Lisim
MID: Azir
AD: Aphelios
SUP: Lulu
VS
TOP: Yune
JG: Sejuani
MID: Orianna
AD: Lucian
SUP: Nyami
The game began without any incidents in the early stages.
As it was the first set, both teams played cautiously, carefully exchanging a few hits, and cautiously advancing the game.
“Let’s take out top early. The enemy jungler should be in that area.”
“Ah, I feel like this is a death sentence for me.”
As Kim Dojin spoke, Sejuani emerged from the bushes at Top.
Since Aatrox had already used QE forward, there was no way to escape.
“Let me back off while grabbing the dragon.”
Accepting the loss of Top, Kim Dojin sacrificed the Rift Herald and moved down.
“The Sejuani Flash + W can’t be evaded.”
This is why the combo of Yune and Sejuani is good.
When Yune’s auto-attack and Q line up with Seju’s W + Flash combo, it results in an inevitable crowd control effect.
“Since we’ve taken the dragon, we can play it out slowly. Would mid lane counter-jungle at this moment?”
“Definitely, the synergy of their close-proximity combos is working well.”
“They anticipated the flash and used W Flash followed by a distance E skill to chill the enemy, then lifted them with Q. Clean move.”
“Even though the early-game kill on Yune might be disappointing to some commentators, ARK has a couple of advantages: securing the dragon, and Para showing control in mid-lane.”
“Is this a gimmick by Top, or what?”
“Does the first kill by Yune mean two kills?”
“Top is unlikely to rotate sides through the rest of the game.”
“But why is Para managing to win mid-lane with Azir against Orianna?”
“What’s this playmaking?”
“Surely, Azir was a strong laning champion in the past, but it wasn’t about Q pokes, rather about prioritizing W mastery. Lately, it doesn’t seem like it should work against a mage like Azir, right?”
“That’s correct. Moreover, Orianna, a traditional strong laning champion, is now showing a CS gap with Para.”
“Typically, when the laning matchup is unfavorable, placing wards early around the opponent’s blade of the ruined king would be standard. But Para doesn’t do that.”
“Instead, Para saves his wards and uses them when the opponent has circled their camps, giving him a stronger mid-lane presence. This might be what makes ARK’s top half so powerful.”
“Timing ward placements not at one minute but at three minutes can be crucial.”
“Really, it’s not about the wards; he’s just outplaying Orianna’s pressure in lane.”
“Para’s mindset is to dodge all non-targeted skills.”
“He wins if he dodges all the skills.”
“But what makes it possible is this—look! Dodging all of Orianna’s skills with just movements… is that even reasonable?”
“Such mid-lane dominance naturally makes it easier for the jungler, and it could help relieve the pressure off the struggling top-lane, right?”
“Far now, Para is showing the textbook example of how a strong mid-lane can lead the game.”
“But this doesn’t seem easy.”
“YK is doing well overall.”
“Hunter is insane right now. He’s the king of the jungle.”
“Look, Sejuani is waiting in mid-bushes.”
“To catch Para?”
“I mean, there’s nothing on the objectives. They’re probably looking for an opportunity before returning.”
“If they don’t save ignite, they can’t come back strong on the next Rift Herald timing.”
“Orianna’s acting is ridiculous.”
“Is he intentionally moving toward the tower to give Para an easy dash?”
“Exactly, a mind game since they can easily Flow out.”
“Still, wouldn’t it hurt Orianna more if they both use Flash?”
“Para’s mindset seems to crush mid-lane opponents.”
“Wouldn’t an immobile unit like Orianna naturally want to get in the face of the tower, Para?”
“Even if Ori is pushed back, they’ll retreat using Flash and then counter with Shockwave afterward.”
“Hmm…”
“Shockwave!”
“Pumpkin instantly flashes out, Shockwave! Hunter moves in as well!”
“What is this… insane play! Para dodged the Q skill airborne with Flash, luring Sejuani into the tower and taking them down!”
“Was it a calculated move based on sufficient health? Soaking Shockwave while skillfully dodging Seju’s following Q skill with Flash… Para ended up catching Seju!”
“Just amazing play, like he’s on top of the situation.”
“Yeah, since Orianna won’t die from the ultimate, it seems he’s just taking it and using the opportunity with Seju’s non-Flash to pull him into the tower.”
“Incredible.”
“Just that Para genuinely plays League of Legends well.”
“The wall is truly impressive.”
