Jin Air Green Wings are now on the edge of avoiding relegation after an impressive 2-1 upset victory over the LCK’s number one team, Griffin.
With the league’s top half in a complete state of disarray, the LCK’s lower ranked teams haven’t received much attention this Summer Split. But just as there is a race for playoffs currently in the LCK, there’s also another race between the bottom three teams where the winner will be granted immunity from relegations.
After their victory today, Jin Air are now tied with MVP at eighth place, just barely out of relegation contention. Though with how this series began, you wouldn’t have expected Jin Air to even have a chance at beating Griffin.
Jin Air started today’s match with an altered roster including substitutes jungler Lee “KaKAO” Byung-kwon and Yoon “Justice” Seok-joon—a decision which quickly proved incorrect.
KaKAO’s was nowhere to be seen in game one, while Justice became nothing more than Jin Air’s shield bot as Karma. Griffin had the freedom to do whatever they wanted, and cleanly ended the game without suffering a single death.
As jungler Eom “UmTi” Seong-hyeon and mid laner Lee “Grace” Chan-ju’s made their return to the starting lineup in game two, Jin Air’s play completely changed. Usually whenever Jin Air wins a match it’s off the back of their superstar AD carry Park “Teddy” Jin-seong. But Jin Air’s win today was led by the tag-team of UmTi and Grace.
With the help of UmTi’s early ganks, Grace was able to demolish both Griffin mid laners. Grace used his lead to help his other lanes, and the team all three of Griffin’s outer turrets in both games two and three.
Grace’s heroic plays culminated in an extraordinary Baron steal as Leblanc. Grace’s steal crushed any hopes Griffin had at making a comeback in game two, while also giving Jin Air enough of a power boost to end the game.
Although he wasn’t the main star today Teddy still played a crucial role in Jin Air’s win, especially in game three. Teddy’s spectacular aim as Jhin made running away impossible for Griffin. Just as Grace started teamfights in game three with his Orianna shockwaves, Teddy closed those same fights with Jhin’s curtain call.
After their loss today, Griffin no longer have first place guaranteed. With KT Rolster just behind them in the standings and owning the head-to-head record, Griffin could end the regular season in second if KT win their remaining games.
Now tied with MVP in the standings, Jin Air will try to take sole possession of eighth place on Aug. 2, when they take on KT.
