The LEC is finally back on our screens, and what a weekend fans have in store.
With a bumper weekend of fixtures, we should get an amazing first look at what the 2022 LEC has to offer. With top matches from our Power Pick 2022 top picks, and upsets are truly on the cards. Below, we’ll briefly recap the first day of action of the 2022 Spring Split, including stat highlights from each series.
MAD Lions v Team Vitality
First blood went to MAD, and the early game was very much theirs. The early game lead became the mid-game lead as MAD Lions showed up in game one of the LEC. Vitality never seemed to have an answer for what MAD threw at them, as by the 25-minute mark, Vitality were stuck inside their base. Despite some last ditched attempt to stay in the game, MAD took an easy win, as they got their season off to a great start against many peoples’ favorites.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: MAD – Vitality
- Time: 32:01
- Kills: 20-9
- Turrets: 11-1
- Gold: 65.4k – 53.4k
- Dragons: 4-1
- Barons: 2-0
Rogue v SK Gaming
SK got off to the perfect start, but wasn’t able to hang on to it. By the 20-minute mark, their early lead had slipped, as Rogue began to take over the Rift. SK never found a way back, picking up just one tower along the way. It took Rogue just shy of 28-minutes to finish the game. It wasn’t the start SK would have wanted, but for Rogue, it was a potential banana skin avoided on week 1.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: Rogue v SK Gaming
- Time:27:30
- Kills: 15-8
- Turrets: 2-2
- Gold: 52.7k – 43.3k
- Dragons: 2-2
- Barons: 1-0
G2 vs Excel
Excel picked up the first blood, and the early to mid-game was relatively close. However, as the game went on G2 started to claw ahead with XL lacking a competent answer to a lot of what G2 was putting down. XL was still within touching distance, with an all-important Baron fighting a potential decider was on the cards. With Baron claiming the Baron, they drew the match level and the game was on. Once the fighting started, however, Excel didn’t have anything left as G2 started to starve them out off the map.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: Excel – G2
- Time: 41:48
- Kills: 17-27
- Turrets: 6-8
- Gold: 70.7k – 80.6k
- Dragons: 1-5
- Barons: 1-1
Astralis v Misfits Gaming
Probably the most even early game of the day thus far, with Misfits able to maintain the slightest of margins. Misfits were able to maintain their lead as the game moved into the late game, and their winning fight for the first Baron looked to have sealed their victory. While Astralis kept within touching distance, Misfits were able to hold out and secure an important first win of the 2022 season.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: Astralis – Misfits
- Time: 40:58
- Kills: 13-14
- Turrets: 3-10
- Gold: 69.6k – 77.5k
- Dragons: 3-3
- Barons: 1-2
Fnatic v Team BDS
BDS picked up first blood, and while they never ran away with the game, they certainly spent most of it ahead. At first, it seemed to catch Fnatic out cold, but a decisive fight in the 22-minute looked to turn the tables as Fnatic moved into a slight lead. Fnatic turned the fight into a Baron and a 3k lead as they looked to shake off those early-game nerves. BDS tried valiantly to claw their way back late on, but Fnatic managed to stick to their guns and pull out the victory.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: Fnatic – BDS
- Time: 34:43
- Kills: 15-12
- Turrets: 9-4
- Gold: 64.1k – 59.8k
- Dragons: 3-2
- Barons: 1-1
