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I May (4-3, 8-8 match record) staged a stunning comeback against QG Reapers (4-3, 10-8 match record) on Friday to kick off Week 5, Day 2 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai, China.
QG Reapers started Game 1 on a high note as jungler Kim "Clid" Tae-min's Rengar picked up several early kills, snowballing his lanes. While I May held a firm grip on the Elemental Drakes, QG's teamfighting was simply too much for I May's team composition to handle, mostly due to mid laner Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang's Vladimir, who popped off in a big way. Dealing massive damage while routinely out-playing IM's initiation attempts with his Sanguine Pool, Doinb posted a game-high 33,300 damage alongside a 4/1/10 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 93 percent kill participation and MVP honors. Securing two Baron kills and an Elder Dragon in the late game, QG Reapers took a final 5-for-1 fight in I May's base to take Game 1 in 40 minutes.
A visibly rattled I May had their prayers to the LoL gods answered when Doinb blind-picked Akali mid, giving IM mid laner Kang "Athena" Ha-woon a counter pick with Zilean. With both teams even in gold in the mid game, I May took a massive 4-for-1 teamfight win in the mid lane during an extended siege, giving them complete control of the game. With QG unable to kill anyone thanks to Athena's great teamfighting and Chronoshifts, the Reapers were forced into a desperation Baron attempt at 23 minutes where Athena hit a massive four-man double Time Bomb to secure two kills and a Baron for I May. Posting a KDA of 5/1/10 for 94 percent kill participation, Athena led I May as they crushed QG Reapers with a 28-minute Game 2 win.
The series-deciding Game 3 was slow throughout the early and mid games, despite I May picking up early kill and elemental drake leads. QG Reapers took the lead at the 28-minute mark when Clid's Lee Sin stole a Mountain Drake before taking a 3-for-0 teamfight that gave QG the first Baron of the game, but couldn't capitalize. In a ridiculous beginning to the late game, both teams repeatedly skirmished and positioned around Baron in an unexpected fiesta, with QG securing three Barons and an Elder Dragon thanks to Clid stealing two Barons from under I May's nose. In the end, QG's poor late-game decision making was punished by I May's superior team composition, where AD carry Xie "Jinjiao" Jin-Shan's Jhin shined with a 5/3/12 KDA for 85 percent kill participation as I May outlasted QG Reapers to take home the series with a 58-minute Game 3 win.
I May have a little time to celebrate their win as they face Team WE on Sunday at 5:00 AM EST, while QG Reapers will look to rebound against LGD Gaming at 1:00 AM EST on Sunday.