League of Legends World Championship 2015 scores: KOO Tigers sweep Fnatic, advances to final

The second of two League of Legends Worlds semifinal series took place Sunday, with European champions Fnatic up against Korean side KOO Tigers. Saturday we saw the first Europe vs. Korea matchup, as SKTelecom T1 swept Origen and became the first team ever to advance to the Worlds finals undefeated. Sunday, we saw another Korean sweep, setting up the first ever Korea vs. Korea final.

Fnatic entered the day on a hot streak after a shocking sweep of Edward Gaming in the quarterfinal round. After an undefeated 18-0 run in the European LCS, Fnatic looked like one of the most complete teams in the world, and has used some of the more inventive team compositions in the tournament.

KOO Tigers made it this far by beating a Korean team that finished higher than they did in the regular season: KT Rolster. The Tigers took that series 3-1, thanks to four dominant Fiora games by Smeb, who has been the best top laner statistically in the tournament.

KOO 25-18, 43:24

Bans: Tahm Kench, Shen, Lulu; Gangpank, Mordekaiser, Elise

Fnatic got off to a quick lead in farm in every lane with the lane swap, pressuring KOO around the map. Rekkles and YellOwStaR were able to push PraY and GorillA out of the top lane to take the outer tower, causing a swap back to traditional lanes. Reignover ganked as soon as Huni and Smeb got there, getting First Blood.

A gigantic team fight followed in the bottom lane, and Fnatic won this trade as well. At first, it looked like KOO had the advantage, taking out YellOwStar and Rekkless immediately. but Huni landed a huge Onslaught of Shadows, allowing Reignover and Febiven to pick up some clean-up kills and make it a 4-3 trade in Fnatic’s favor.

After KOO took first Dragon, another messy team fight erupted. Once again, it looked like KOO had the advantage, earning early kills on YellOwStaR and Reignover (who was 4/0/1 at the time). Huni and Febiven were able to turn the fight in Fnatic’s favor, resulting in another 4-3 fight.

Fnatic went for another aggressive fight in the bottom lane, but this one bit the European side. Kuro’s Kassadin picked up an unanswered triple kill, evening up the kill score to 9-9 and lessening the gold deficit to 2.5k. After a 1 for 1 trade in the bottom lane, KOO took second Dragon uncontested.

While the two teams hovered around Baron, hoping for ward control, Huni was able to sneak behind KOO’s team with the teleport and take out PraY. GorillA went down in the ensuing skirmish, and Smeb was taken out a few moments later. Fnatic was not able to take the Baron, but the three uncontested kills helped pad the lead.

KOO took a third Dragon uncontested, and a poor attempted dive by Fnatic allowed the Tigers to pick off Reignover. Fnatic picked off Hojin near Baron, setting up a potential game-ending situation. But KOO completely turned the fight, picking up three kills for Smeb and a 4-1 fight overall, earning Baron and using the buff to completely nullify Fnatic’s gold lead.

KOO picked off YellOwStar near Dragon, taking out Rekkles and Huni in the ensuing chaos and picking up two major objectives: the first inhibitor of the game and Dragon 4. KOO took out Reignover, appearing to set up a second Baron, but Fnatic recovered with a 3-0 team fight and took the objective.

That was only able to prolong the game, however. A team fight erupted around Dragon, with Fnatic hoping to deny KOO aspect. But KOO won the fight 5-1, with a Quadra Kill to give Kuro a double-double, marching into the base and winning the game.

KOO 23-8, 45:09

Bans: LeBlanc, Lulu, Rek’Sai; Elise, Gangplank, Mordekaiser

After a strong start for Fnatic in the lanes, Smeb and Kuro caught Reignover during a jungle invade, getting First Blood onto Kuro. Smeb solo killed Huni 12 minutes in, but Fnatic puled off the Headbutt-Impale combination on Kuro under his own tower to give Febiven Fnatic’s first kill of the game.

At 21 minutes in, Rekkles and YellOwStaR stayed too long in the top lane to try and finish off the outer turret, getting caught by a sudden four-Tiger appearance. KOO took out Reignover and an inner turret in the ensuing fight. KOO won the next fight 4-1 around Baron, taking the gold lead (Fnatic had held onto it so long because of farm advantages from Huni, Reignover and Febiven).

Up 12-4 in kills and with a 1.5K gold lead at 29 minutes, KOO rushed down Baron. In the ensuing fight, KOO picked off the entire Fnatic team unanswered, using the buff to break open the base by taking all three inhibitors. Fnatic held strong in its base, winning a fight 2-0 with only one Nexus tower up,

At 36 minutes, KOO set up for another Baron. Fnatic was able to zone them out and take the buff, evening up the gold margin and somehow making this a winnable game. But a fight around the next Baron went 4-0 in KOO’s favor, ending the game.

KOO 24-7, 30:35

Bans: Tahm Kench, Shen, Veigar; Gangplank, Mordekaiser, Elise

KOO Tigers secured First Blood when Huni and Reignover overextended to try and take out Smeb and Hojin. Smeb got the kill on Huni, extending a top lane gold advantage that already saw a significant farm lead. A four-man dive in the bottom lane for KOO picked up a kill for Kuro, and Smeb earned another kill despite being in a 1 vs. 3.

Trailing 8-2 19 minutes in, Fnatic picked off Hojin at the beginning of a fight, but KOO was able to turn the fight 4-2 in its favor. PraY continually hit his Enchanted Crystal Arrows, allowing Hojin to kick the target into the KOO team for Smeb and PraY to clean up with kills. KOO picked up a 3-0 team fight 23 minutes in, taking Baron uncontested.

KOO took all three inhibitors, acing Fnatic in the base and winning the series.