FlyQuest vs CLG

This is where things get interesting -- *a lot* more interesting. We have a fight between FlyQuest, the second best team from Spring, and Counter Logic Gaming, a team that failed to climb any higher than tenth place last split. On paper, this is about as big of a mismatch as you can get, but in reality, things couldn't be farther from the truth.

FlyQuest are still about as strong as they were near the end of last split, and that's quite a commendable feat considering the fact that many of their peers upgraded and the region as a whole became noticeably more competitive. FlyQuest might not look like a top-tier behemoth, but they sure do play like one, especially when they draft as well as they can and get off on the right foot. Their mechanical talent, team-wide cohesion, and penchant for non-stop skirmishing and stellar team fighting are arguably matched only by the likes of Cloud9 and Evil Geniuses. There's always a reason to tune in when FLY step foot on stage to compete, and they never fail to entertain even when they do end up on the receiving end of things.

As a team, they're insanely talented and are finally being recognized for the many things they've been doing right, and that holds true for both their individual players as well as their coaching staff. Of course, no team is perfect, and FlyQuest is definitely prone to overstepping and engaging at ill-advised moments; still, they have a distinct identity and are always thinking up new ways in which they can maximize their strengths and emerge victorious.

Still, we knew they were good, and no one is overly surprised given their current power level. Counter Logic Gaming, however, were universally deemed as a bottom-tier dweller coming into the 2020 Summer Split. There was nothing to get excited about, and for a team that finished tenth and didn't make even a single change to their starting roster, disappointment and pessimism were the only possible states one could be in whenever CLG became the topic of discussion.

But against all odds (and logic), Counter Logic Gaming (no pun intended) rose through the ranks and played far better than anyone ever expected. It boggles the mind, really. They currently have a very commendable 3W-1L record after two weeks of play and have already tied their number of wins from Spring. Let that one sink in. Everyone on the team is performing above and beyond what people thought was possible, and their recent success was by no means a fluke -- it was instead earned in sweat and blood. Now, of course, CLG is by no means a top-tier team, but they are deceptively capable and are fully reveling in their underdog status. They have a clear gameplan every time they step foot on stage to compete and they always try their hardest, regardless of the odds.

Still, it's important not take a step back and look things from a different perspective. Their three wins came over Immortals, Team Dignitas, and the Golden Guardians. The first two are undoubtedly the worst teams in the region, with GGS being insanely talented but still incredibly volatile and inconsistent, given the fact that they haven't been playing that long with their newly-signed mid laner Tanner "Damonte" Damonte. These three wins do not make CLG a contender, but they are a sign of what's possible. CLG has improved tenfold from Spring and could, potentially, even challenge for a solid spot in the playoffs. That might not sound all that impressive given the broader LCS context, but it's still unexpected and worthy of the highest praise.

The fact that they went from being perfect game'd in their very first Summer Split outing to stringing three wins in a row is a testament to their work ethic and incredible mental fortitude.

Despite this, we simply have to side with FlyQuest on this one. They're more layered, they have a lot more potential as a five-man unit, they have more tools to work with and can potentially win through all three lanes, and their experience from Spring will be invaluable throughout the rest of 2020. CLG will fight like their lives depend on it, but with the vast majority of FlyQuest playing their best League of Legends yet, it's fair to assume that CLG won't be able to compete on even footing, at least not when those hectic mid and later stages of the game come around.

Either way, expect a fairly close and skirmish-heavy game that's bound to deliver!