Chapter 514: Semi-finals, order food!
The previous MSI had a shorter schedule and only featured intense matches, so there were far fewer topics to discuss than in the S series finals.
This time, the situation was very different.
Xing Dao's 1v5 with Juggernaut and his counterattack with Irelia grabbed the front page headlines of all major platforms and pushed the popularity of the group stage to an unprecedented high.
The second original explosion of the PGM mentality further ignited public opinion.
Especially when the GIF of the dual-core bombing and the post-match performance went viral, audiences started to watch the show.
Great...Great! Korean netizens even teamed up with Asan to make the usually arrogant Xiao Rizi speechless.
This side of Europe.
The title used by French e-sports media Lequipe is equally amazing.
Even the locals enjoyed playing with the old jokes.
After all, it is not shameful to be ruled by a dwarf with a broken wheel, and the so-called "breast law" is just a mocking term for those few special cases.
Except for the other four major...mobile weapons dealers and some individual monsters, anyone who dares to take it seriously will be in trouble.
May 15th.
The last day of competition is over.
EDG easily defeated the European FNC and the North American TL, leading the group with a perfect record.
KZ won seven out of ten games and ranked second.
Flash Wolves FW ranked third with six wins.
FNC had five wins and five losses, catching the last train to qualify.
North American TL was unlucky and only won three games. If it weren't for the free-scoring PGM, the statistics would be simply unbearable.
As the qualifying places are determined.
Entering the much-loved 'ordering' session.
As the first in the group, EDG can choose between the third and fourth as their opponent in the semi-finals.
The remaining one will face off against KZ.
"Brother, you won't choose us, right?" FNC mid laner Caps sent a message to Xing Dao.
"Who else should I choose if not you? KZ can't be chosen." Xing Dao teased.
"It's great to choose FW, you will definitely win against FW, and we have a chance against KZ... Although FW is called the anti-Korean hero, they can only beat the Korean team in BO1, and they can't beat them in BO5." Caps tried hard.
"That's true, but we can't fight against each other." Although Xing Dao felt that this suggestion was good, he still refused.
The relationship between Flash Wolves FW and EDG is actually pretty good.
We usually have training matches.
Although FW is weaker than FNC on paper after losing the wolf king Kasra and is relatively easier to beat, EDG is not suitable to bully provincial teams.
Anyway, it’s not that difficult to beat FNC!
While waiting for the official to inquire, EDG submitted its selection, and the semi-final matchup schedule was soon announced on the big screen.
The next day, the four qualified teams set off from Berlin to Paris, France.
Exit the airport.
Take a taxi and head to Parc de la Villette.
Ah Shui looked at the scenery around the street and suddenly became curious: "Is this France? Why does it feel a bit like Africa?"
"There are so many black people!" Meiko scratched his head.
According to official figures, only 8.43% of the population in France is black.
Normally speaking, you might not see one out of ten people.
But black people can be seen everywhere around the streets, coupled with all kinds of household garbage, plastic bags floating in the air from time to time , and old street scenes, it doesn't look like the romantic city as rumored.
"There are mixed-blood ones!"
Zizi used a less accurate statement: "The black genes are too strong, and anything even slightly related will be black."
"Ah!" Ah Shui suddenly realized.
"There's another reason." Xing Dao added: "Not a single black person died on 9/11."
"Is this true? Why?" Meiko didn't understand.
"The black people are all on the streets, not in the office buildings." Xing Dao chuckled.
“Hahahahahaha fuck!”
"So that's how it is."
"I understand!"
After some banter, the taxi drove out of the slum-like area.
The scenery immediately improved a lot.
The classic European-style architecture, sculptures and perfect greenery look like an oil painting by a master under the warm sunshine, which saves a lot of points in the impression.
Arrived near Parc de la Villette.
The EDG players first went to the hotel arranged by the authorities to rest.
Abu took the logistics members to the Zenith Stadium to confirm the location, find the entrance, and make these pre-match preparations before returning.
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
After lunch and a short nap, the EDG players got up and scheduled a training match with Flash Wolves FW.
From a rational point of view.
Flash Wolves FW has basically no chance of winning the BO5 against the LCK champion KZ.
But what if...
Moreover, even if FW cannot win, winning one or two more games and forcing KZ to come up with something will also be a good thing for EDG.
On the other side, KZ and FNC were also feeding each other skills.
By the way, study some strange routines.
The MSI group stage is actually a process of mutual understanding. Based on the mutual encounters, FNC knows that the probability of defeating EDG with conventional tactics is negligible.
Therefore, the main focus was on developing black technology.
KZ is naturally happy to see this. After all, FNC was the first to test the bottom. If the black technology is effective, they can definitely learn from it and maybe even earn a ban position.
After two days of intensive preparations.
At 6 pm on May 18th, the first semi-final officially began!
…
"Dear summoners, long time no see. Welcome to the 2018 MSI Mid-Season Championship semi-finals. We would like to say hello to you all!"
Wawa, Miller, and special guest Yuzu appeared in the commentary booth.
After reading the sponsor's slogan and the name of the cooperating media.
Wawa got to the point: "Today's match is between our region's champion EDG and the European champion FNC. EDG won all ten games in the group stage, while FNC had five wins and five losses, with a winning rate of just 50%."
"However, EDG must not be careless."
"Because European and American teams generally perform a little abnormally in the first round of the group stage, but they will get better and better afterwards."
"Yes." Miller nodded: "Speaking of which, does Yuzu know what the reason is?"
"I personally feel that the pace of the European and American regions is slower." As a former professional player, Youzi has a say: "They are used to the rhythm of slowly developing and fighting in teamfights in the region, and will be caught off guard when encountering fast-paced teams like EDG, KZ, and FW... Only after they adapt can they show their true level."
"I see!" Wawa made a look of sudden enlightenment: "So how did you predict the result of today's game?"
"I think EDG can win 3-1." Miller speculated: "3 points for EDG's strength, and 1 point for FNC's King of Magic Caps."
There is nothing to hide about the fact that EDG's mid lane is a weakness.
Even Zzitai admitted during the live broadcast that he was lucky, as he managed to become the starting player on the last day of the transfer period when EDG had no one else available.
Miller feels that the new King of Magic Caps is well-known and has the ability to lead FNC to win a game.
"I feel the same way."
Yuzu shared the same view: "Caps should be the strongest mid laner in this MSI. Even if FNC loses to KZ, Caps' record is not worse than BDD's. He definitely has the potential to carry the team."
"You all guessed 3-1, so I'll guess 3-0." Wawa set the tone: "Caps is indeed strong, but General showed off two 1v5s in the group stage. One time, Juggernaut killed PGM, and the other time, Knife Girl sold a resurrection armor in the jungle and made a Jedi counterattack to reverse KZ."
"Even if EDG falls into a passive position due to some reasons, General has the ability to lead the team to fight back!"
