SK Telecom T1 took down the ROX Tigers 3-2 in one of the most anticipated matchups of the League of Legends World Championship.The pairing of the defending Worlds champion SKT against the No. 1-ranked team in the world, ROX Tigers, went the full distance and absolutely lived up to the hype. It was a strategic drafting masterclass and a beautiful display of adjustments from lane phase to mid game.SKT showed off its impressive champion selection depth and fundamentals to take down the ROX Tigers. Lee Faker Sang-hyeok was solid throughout the set on Orianna and Viktor. He never amazed, but his itemization and strong laning throughout the entirety of the set was the rock anchoring SKTs attack. The versatility came in the form of the best player at Worlds, Bae Bang Jun-sik. The AD carry was excellent on Jhin and Ashe but lackluster on his Caitlyn and Ezreal. Despite the up-and-down performances, Bang was still a matchup nightmare and outputted enough damage to really make a difference. Perhaps the best contribution from Bang was his fearless drive to initiate fights or dive for the important kill. The difference between Bang and his counterpart, Kim PraY Jong-in, was his aggression, and it paid off for SKTs overall teamfight. The X factor for SKT was its revolving lineup at jungle. Both Bae benji Seong-ung and Kang Blank Sun-gu played differently enough to confuse the opposition. Whether it was stronger lane presence from bengi or team fight from Blank, the team benefited from the multiple approaches.The ROX Tigers suffered from the inconsistent performances of the teams core members -- Song Smeb Kyung-ho, Lee kur0 Seo-haeng and PraY. Despite the individual strengths of its members, the team could never put together strong stretches of League of Legends. Each of the members made individual outplays but could not break through the fundamentals of their fellow South Korean opposition. On paper, ROX Tigers were stronger in the lane matchups, with Smeb as a winning lane and a tie in the bottom, but it never really came to fruition.SKT will advance to the finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 29 against the winner of tomorrows match between Samsung Galaxy and H2k. .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Sophie Ecclestone, the uncapped Lancashire left-arm spinner, has been named in England Womens 15-member squad for the three-match T20 series at home against Pakistan. Her Lancashire team-mate, Kate Cross, however, was left out. Kent left-arm seamer Natasha Farrant, who was not picked for World T20 as well as the ODI series against Pakistan, replaced the injured Anya Shrubsole.Ecclestone and Farrant are the two changes to the squad that swept Pakistan 3-0 in the ODI series. Ecclestone, only 17, is the second left-arm spinner in the squad behind Alexandra Hartley, who made her international debut against Pakistan in the third ODI in Taunton. She is yet to play a T20 international.The T20 series brings a new set of challenges and further opportunities for the players, and Im really pleased to call-up Sophie Ecclestone for the first time, and to welcome Tash Farrant back into the dressing room, Mark Robinson, the head coach, said.Sophie brings youth, vitality and another left-arm spin option alongside Alex Hartley into the squad. We have two world-class offspinners in Danielle Hazell and Laura Marsh, but we also need to be aware of the talent that we have underneath, and making sure that we arre developing the likes of Alex and Sophie, by having them in the group and giving them international match-day experience.ddddddddddddRobinson said that it was a real shame that seamer Beth Langston missed on of selection again, because of injury. She worked tremendously hard during the winter and had a great tour to Sri Lanka with the England Womens Academy, but unfortunately hasnt been able to get involved so far this summer because of her ankle, he said.Robinson also said that Cross was still in the sides plans, despite being overlooked for the Pakistan T20 series. Kate Cross has been left out of this squad to face Pakistan, but we do see her as a Twenty20 bowler moving forwards, he said. There is no reason why she cant be an outstanding bowler across all formats of the game, and we feel that theres a window now where we can do some focused technical work with her away from match situations to help get her ready to perform at her best in the Kia Super League next month.The T20 series begins with the first match at the Brightside Ground in Bristol on Sunday. ' ' '
|