I have to wonder.... What the heck changed to make KR NOT be leagues above everyone else?
Like, if you look back at S4 worlds, the tournament was basically over when NWS beat SKT T1 in the LCK summer split Tiebreaker match - SSW was the clear winner, and there was no question about it.
Like, if you look back at S4 worlds, the tournament was basically over when NWS beat SKT T1 in the LCK summer split Tiebreaker match - SSW was the clear winner, and there was no question about it.
If I helped you out, be sure to throw me a +Rep!
-
My Soraka Guide | My Review Service

Thanks a lot for the sig, jhoi! :)
-
My Soraka Guide | My Review Service

Thanks a lot for the sig, jhoi! :)
That's an interesting question and there's probably no absolute explanation so I'm just going to just list some thoughts to discuss.
- The dissolution and transfers of some of the strongest Korean teams, coaches and players. Knowledge about Korean playstyle was basically spread around the other regions.
- China was actually always the closest to Korea. With the transfer of Korean players and coaches, I guess you could say the gap closed. After that, NA seemed the most serious since last year about getting into the Koreans' heads.
- The pickup of strong Korean players, especially in China.
- There are more and more serious organisation made for the teams with coaches and analysts.
- Lots more game information available on every region in the world. If you see a new champion used in another region, loads of people know within 24 hours.
- Bo1s are difficult to adjust to, so it's possible to cheese advantages with unexpected plays, whereas Korean teams were always better at showing adaptability in Bo3s/Bo5s.
- Jungle and item changes were pretty massive on the game dynamics. Dragons and Barons have changed in priorities and the first jungle clear has changed ganking patterns too.
- The dissolution and transfers of some of the strongest Korean teams, coaches and players. Knowledge about Korean playstyle was basically spread around the other regions.
- China was actually always the closest to Korea. With the transfer of Korean players and coaches, I guess you could say the gap closed. After that, NA seemed the most serious since last year about getting into the Koreans' heads.
- The pickup of strong Korean players, especially in China.
- There are more and more serious organisation made for the teams with coaches and analysts.
- Lots more game information available on every region in the world. If you see a new champion used in another region, loads of people know within 24 hours.
- Bo1s are difficult to adjust to, so it's possible to cheese advantages with unexpected plays, whereas Korean teams were always better at showing adaptability in Bo3s/Bo5s.
- Jungle and item changes were pretty massive on the game dynamics. Dragons and Barons have changed in priorities and the first jungle clear has changed ganking patterns too.
utopus wrote:
I have to wonder.... What the heck changed to make KR NOT be leagues above everyone else?
Like, if you look back at S4 worlds, the tournament was basically over when NWS beat SKT T1 in the LCK summer split Tiebreaker match - SSW was the clear winner, and there was no question about it.
Like, if you look back at S4 worlds, the tournament was basically over when NWS beat SKT T1 in the LCK summer split Tiebreaker match - SSW was the clear winner, and there was no question about it.
Flame
Dandy
Mata
Looper
dade
Acorn
imp
Deft
PawN
Kakao
RooKie
Save
GE Tigers is an incredible team, but they lack the individual skill that say Samsung White had or SKT has. Pray is Amazing, but I Think the rest are pretty Reliant on each other. They are all good, but are a lot more team based. SKT has the raw skill of Faker, which can hard carry games.
If we look at Team WE, they had the better mid and a great jungler. Second, WE played an really aggressive style and GE looked like they couldn't handle it. GE will bounce back in the LCK, they played way too cocky in the 2nd game.
If we look at Team WE, they had the better mid and a great jungler. Second, WE played an really aggressive style and GE looked like they couldn't handle it. GE will bounce back in the LCK, they played way too cocky in the 2nd game.

Thanks to The_Nameless_Bard for the sig!
utopus wrote:
I have to wonder.... What the heck changed to make KR NOT be leagues above everyone else?
Like, if you look back at S4 worlds, the tournament was basically over when NWS beat SKT T1 in the LCK summer split Tiebreaker match - SSW was the clear winner, and there was no question about it.
Like, if you look back at S4 worlds, the tournament was basically over when NWS beat SKT T1 in the LCK summer split Tiebreaker match - SSW was the clear winner, and there was no question about it.
The league changes (OGN becoming LCK) meant that teams didn't necessarily have a set roster any more and this caused the best players (especially the Samsung teams) to leave, while the other teams all had to make roster changes which caused them to struggle a little bit.
Besides that, the other regions are slowly catching up; the coaching ruling from Riot was one step in the right direction as the 'infrastructure' in the west was lacking up until then. Don't forget as well that C9 and Alliance already went 1-1 in there games against Najin White Shield at Worlds so it wasn't like Koreans were 100% unbeatable at all.
Finally, you are basing this statement on a single tournament with no best-of-5's (meaning a wildcard team like WE with 2 solo queue superstars can upset a favourite whereas a BO5 would significantly lower this chance) so I would say it still doesn't mean THAT much at all. The other regions have been creeping up on Korea, but by no means managed to catch up yet.
You need to log in before commenting.
I can't wait to see what happens on Sunday!
I'm watching it with my 7 year old son. He asks, "If they are the best in the world how did they lose?"
I think I over hyped GET too much to him... I did expect better than what I saw today!
(Though we are in NA so we will be cheering hard for TSM tomorrow!)