The regular portion of the Spring Split has finally concluded! We had nine weeks of highly competitive top-tier play, and even though there was a lot of uncertainty along the way, we can confidently say that the region, as a whole, didn’t disappoint. Let’s do a somewhat quick LCS week 9 recap to go over the standings, but also take a quick look into the playoff picture.

In the end, after ninety games spread across sixty-three days, the six best teams in the region emerged and rightfully locked down their playoff spots. With the way things have developed, we should be in for one of the best playoffs in LCS history. That’s quite a big statement — but also one that shouldn’t be too hard to back up.

Perhaps the upcoming playoffs are so exciting simply because there’s so much on the line, and yet there are multiple perfectly viable outcomes.

Before delving deeper into the playoff picture, let’s take a closer look at the top six teams:

First — Team Liquid (14W-4L)

Finishing the season at first place is Team Liquid. The fact that things resolved in such a way should come as a surprise to absolutely no one. They’re an exceptional team across the board, although it’s important to highlight that their play leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, they’ve lost their aura of invincibility.

They’re still seen as one of the favorites to win the whole split, but they’ve ended the split on a three-game losing streak — not exactly the finish a top-tier team wants to have. Losing is one thing, but losing in such one-sided fashion three times in a row is downright unacceptable for a team of their caliber, a team with so much innate talent within their five-man roster.

Liquid’s vulnerability makes the next couple of weeks incredibly exciting — far more exciting than anyone had anticipated. It’s impossible not to think about the many different outcomes and scenarios. Will they bounce back? Will they return to their original form and fix their issues? Or will they fall prey to a team like Cloud9 or Team SoloMid? The fact that they’re vulnerable makes the playoffs a more level playing field.

Fortunately for Team Liquid, they will have almost two weeks to recuperate, recharge their batteries and prepare for the semifinals. They also get to choose their opponents, so they’re basically set up for success. They should, by all means, be able to get back to top form, but whether or not that’ll happen in time for the eventual LCS Spring Split final still remains to be seen.

Second — Cloud9 (14W-4L)

Coming in at second place we have the 2018 World Championship semifinalists — Cloud9. Even though they’re tied record-wise with Team Liquid, they were unable to get first place due to a negative head-to-head record. Regardless, seeing how they lost their star mid laner Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen just a couple of months ago, getting second place is absolutely fantastic.

They’re an incredible team; standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Team Liquid and Team SoloMid. At their best, they’re unhinged, highly creative, and mind-blowingly versatile. At their worst, however, they’re too aggressive for their own good. We’ve seen the fifty shades of Cloud9 throughout the 2019 Spring Split, and one thing is for sure — they have a ton of potential, and they’re making the right moves in order to remain at the top of the region.

They’re still a tough nut to crack, and predicting how high they will eventually climb is a pretty thankless endeavor. One thing is for sure — they have the right tools in order to challenge the LCS trophy.

Third — Team SoloMid (13W-5L)

This is where things get incredibly interesting. Team SoloMid is the best performing team in the second half of the split, and their current level of play is staggering. Whenever they step foot on the Summoner’s Rift, they look more and more cohesive, aggressive, and mechanically sound.

One can argue that they’re the best team in the region right now, and it’s hard to argue against such a big statement. They’re playing some exceptional League of Legends across the board, and they still manage to surprise us week after week with their stellar drafts and team cohesion. When they’re on the same page — which is more often than not — they’re a marvel to look at. They’re incredibly decisive and commanding, and they don’t need much in order to snowball.

They’re the only team that has managed to take down Team Liquid twice, and they’re entering the playoffs with a metric ton of hype and momentum. They should, without question, be the favorites to win the Spring Split, and while there might be some recency bias involved, they definitely deserve the benefit of the doubt.

They’re going to be fighting with Echo Fox this Sunday, and that’s going to be a clash you do not want to miss. Both teams love to skirmish which means fireworks are almost a guarantee.

Fourth — FlyQuest (10W-9L)

At fourth place, we have FlyQuest. Saying that they’ve served as the perfect gatekeepers throughout the split would be a bit harsh, but they’re definitely a solid, well-rounded mid-tier contender that’s capable of making waves.

Their individual strength, as well as fantastic team cohesion, really shine when they reach the later stages of the game, and they’ve been forced to prove their worth on multiple occasions. They’re near the top of the region, but for one reason or another, they just couldn’t go the extra mile and challenge the upper echelon of the LCS.

While they’re still developing as a five-man unit, there is no reason they shouldn’t be able to maintain such a respectable level of play in the foreseeable future.

It warrants mentioning that getting to fourth place was not an easy task. FlyQuest had to push through thick and thin in order to lock down a playoff spot. They’re still relatively weak in the early game, and when they do find themselves against an early game-focused mammoth they tend to roll over pretty quickly.

Fortunately for FlyQuest, they’ll be going up against the Golden Guardians this Saturday which should be a favorable match-up. That said, even if they do take the Guardians down, they likely won’t be able to leave a more significant mark this time around.

Fifth — Golden Guardians (9W-10L)

What can one say about the Golden Guardians? We’ve been watching them play for the last nine weeks, and we’re nowhere closer to understanding their strength and potential than when the split began. We’ve seen their flashes of brilliance, but also their abysmal, shocking dips in performance. Even when the Guardians make a solid play, there’s always a shoddy engage or sloppy team fight immediately following it.

Depending on who they’re up against, these errors can either be negligible or game-deciding. If there’s one good thing we can say about the Guardians, it is the fact that they’re individually sound and highly versatile. They can play a wide variety of team comps, but not at a particularly high level. Add individual inconsistency to the mix as well, and you get a mid-tier contender that’s impossible to read. They often go for a play they have no business making and, against all odds, pull it off. Conversely, they fumble and fail at the most basic things.

There’s no logic or reason when the Guardians play.

One thing is for certain — they can compete with the best teams in the region, but they almost always fall short of reaching the mark. Regardless, the fact that they were able to reach the playoffs after being tenth two splits in a row is a seismic achievement worthy of the highest praise.

Sixth — Echo Fox (8W-10L)

Rounding out the playoff top six, we have none other than Echo Fox. That wasn’t a typo. This ragtag group of misfits was able to pull off a monumental turnaround — and in the nick of time as well. They ended the regular portion of the split on a four-game win streak, and they looked downright fantastic in the process.

After subbing Lee “Rush” Yoon-jae back into the starting line-up, they looked like a team possessed. They started playing like someone was holding their family members hostage. It was as if they just flipped a switch, and they zeroed in on the precise mindset they needed to succeed. Even without that, the fact that they learned how to manage and control their aggression is mind-blowing. They’re more subdued, calculated, and patient — but still fully capable of going for those unhinged, ill-advised dives and team fights whenever they feel like it. This element of surprise is perhaps their biggest asset, and it helped them immensely more than once.

They’re entering the playoffs as the biggest dark horse, but seeing how they’re up against a very prepared Team SoloMid, it’s fair to assume that their road stops on Sunday. That said, they got this far when everyone doubted them, so they definitely have the right tools at their disposal in order to make this into one heck of a Best of 5.

That’s it for our LCS week 9 recap! If you’re still in the mood for some high octane top-tier play, make sure to tune in this week to the playoff quarterfinals (broadcasted on YouTube and Twitch). We should be in for two exceptional Best of 5 matches — FlyQuest vs. Golden Guardians and Team SoloMid vs. Echo Fox.