LEC Versus Playoffs: Teams Lock In as Knockout Stage Nears
Playoff Picture Takes Shape
The LEC Versus playoffs kick off February 16 in Berlin, culminating in the grand finals March 1 in Badalona. Three teams – Karmine Corp, GIANTX, and Natus Vincere – secured their playoff spots during Week 3, while Karmine Corp Blue became the first team mathematically eliminated from contention.
Karmine Corp Maintains Dominance
Karmine Corp, led by star player Caliste ‘Caliste’ Henry-Hennebert, reinforced their status as title favorites despite opening Week 3 with a loss to Team Vitality. The French squad responded with decisive victories over Fnatic and Shifters, improving to a 7-2 record and locking their playoff position. Their consistent high-level play makes them the team to beat heading into the knockout stage.
LEC Versus e-Learning. / ASSIGNED
GIANTX Shows Consistency
GIANTX mirrored their previous week’s performance with wins against Natus Vincere and SK Gaming before falling to Team Vitality. Coach André ‘Guilhoto’ Pereira has stabilized the roster in a tournament where 70% of matches have featured comebacks from early-game deficits according to Oracle’s Elixir data. Their 6-3 record demonstrates their ability to navigate the league’s competitive parity.
Movistar KOI’s Struggles Open Door for Challengers
Movistar KOI’s 1-2 weekend against lower-ranked opponents threatened their playoff hopes. Losses to Los Ratones and Team Heretics were mitigated by a crucial win against SK Gaming, leaving them at 5-4 – tied with Team Vitality. Analyst Javier ‘Elyoya’ Prades noted post-match: “Our macro play needs immediate improvement if we want to compete against top teams in playoffs.”
Team Heretics’ Late Surge
Team Heretics reignited their playoff hopes with victories over Movistar KOI and Karmine Corp Blue. Their 4-5 record sets up a dramatic final week where they’ll face Fnatic and Karmine Corp – two of the league’s strongest teams. Historically, only 21% of teams with 4-5 records at this stage have qualified for LEC playoffs based on Leaguepedia statistics.
Los Ratones Emerge as Cinderella Story
The NLC representatives delivered the weekend’s biggest upsets, defeating reigning LEC finalists G2 Esports and Movistar KOI before falling to Natus Vincere. At 3-6, Los Ratones need two wins in their final matches against Shifters and SK Gaming to potentially force a tiebreaker for the 8th playoff spot.
The rise of Los Ratones. / ASSIGNED
Final Week Scenarios
Five playoff spots remain open heading into the February 7-8 matches. Key matchups to watch:
- Team Heretics vs. Fnatic (February 7)
- Los Ratones vs. SK Gaming (February 8)
- Movistar KOI vs. Team Vitality (February 8)
The top eight teams will advance to the double-elimination bracket, with all matches broadcast live on the official LEC Twitch and YouTube channels.
Source: Diario de Ibiza
Images Credit: www.diariodeibiza.es