TL;DW – LCK Edition: Chaotic Game Between BNK and T1
Week 3, day 3 of the LCK Rounds 1-2. Game 1 of the match between BNK FEARX (BNK) and T1. At this point, BNK is 2-3, while T1 is 3-2. BNK’s roster is Clear (top), Raptor (jungle), VicLa (mid), Diable (carry), and Kellin (support). T1’s roster is Doran (top), Oner (jungle), Faker (mid), Smash (carry), and Keria (support). BNK is on blue side, T1 red side. See specific definitions of early, mid, and late game at the bottom.
Champion Selection: BNK Target Top Lane
BNK banned Rumble, Sion, and Gwen in an attempt to limit Doran’s champion pool. T1 opted to spread the love around, banning Vi, Kalista, and Jayce.
The first pick for BNK was Varus. T1 then picked Azir and Xin Zhao. BNK countered with Naafiri and Taliyah. T1 then picked Ezreal before the second ban phase, during which Nautilus, Alistar, Renata, and Ambessa were banned.
After the second ban phase, T1 picked Rakan (a move questioned by the commentators). BNK rounded up their team with Jax and Poppy (who was chosen specifically to counter Rakan). Last pick went to T1, and they decided on Gragas.
Team comps are: BNK – Jax (top), Naafiri (jungle), Taliyah (mid), Varus (carry), Poppy (support) vs. T1 – Gragas (top), Xin Zhao (jungle), Azir (mid), Ezreal (carry), Rakan (support)
Early Game Highlights: Minor Skirmishes In Bot Side
The game started out with a pause from BNK because of audio issues. Once they were resolved, the game started up. There was a small fight in bot river near mid lane between Faker and VicLa before minions spawned, but it was little more than posturing.
T1 draws first blood with Smash killing Kellin in a team fight in bot river. Diable counters with a double kill against T1’s bot lane. This is swiftly followed by Faker and Oner working together to kill Raptor near the dragon pit.
Faker and Clear both reach level 6 at the same time, ending the early game. The gold difference at this point is even, but BNK is ahead in the farm by 7.
Mid Game Highlights: T1 Ekes Ahead
The mid game starts out with a successful gank mid lane against Faker by VicLa and Raptor. T1 claims the first drake (Chemtech), while BNK claims the first Voidgrubs a few seconds later. BNK also gets the second set of Voidgrubs when they spawn.
The next major fight occurs at the dragon pit. BNK starts the objective, but T1 intervenes with an engagement from Keria. A Gragas Ult removes Diable from the fight long enough for T1 to deal significant damage to the rest of BNK. The end result is 3 to 1 in T1’s favor, who then takes the drake (cloud).
The rest of the mid-game proceeds without major conflict. No towers have been taken as of yet. The gold difference at the end of mid game is 2k in T1’s favor. They are also ahead in farm.
Late Game Highlights: An Unfortunately Turn of Events
The first major event in the late game is Kellin dying to Keria, Smash, and Faker in top red jungle thanks to being spotted out by a ward. This death leads to a mid lane gank against Diable by the same 3 T1 player, though Diable manages to escape thanks to Flash and Chains of Corruption.
Clear, down in the bot lane, takes the first turret. A moment later, VicLa and Raptor ambush a low-health Faker under his top outer turret and kill him, though they don’t get the turret.
BNK attempts to contest the 3rd drake (ocean), but T1 is able to push them back and take the objective. While they do, Clear takes the top outer turret. BNK starts up Rift Herald while T1 fights the Voracious Atakhan (who spawned near bot lane). They both get their respective objectives.
A fight breaks out after T1 takes Atakhan. It ends up going 2 to 0 for T1 thanks to the Atakhan’s revival. While this fight is happening, Diable is mid lan,e taking both the outer and inner turrets with the help of Rift Herald.
T1 takes their first turret (outer bot) at around 22 minutes in.  Several turrets on both sides fall in short order, followed by 4 fights. There is a 2 for 2 fight in mid lane, a prolonged fight for the Ocean drake that goes 2 to 1 in BNK’s favor (they also take the drake), a failed ambush by BNK in mid lane (no deaths), and a minor skirmish around the dragon pit that goes 1 for 1 and leads to BNK taking the 5th drake.
Unfortunately for BNK, despite the advantages they’ve garnered, thanks to a pincer move courtesy of Keria, T1 is able to start and win an elongated fight through top river, going 4 to 1. This allows them to take Baron.  Once everyone from BNK revives, they attempt to force a fight in mid lane. T1 is about to turn it around, going 4 to 1, and ending the game.
Post Game Analysis: Experience Wins Out in the LCK
T1 ends the game at 37:30 with about a 7k gold lead. Despite the edge that BNK had thanks to their draft, Taliyah and Poppy being strong counter picks to the high mobility Azir and Rakan, they were unable to properly capitalize on their advantages.
Besides Rakan being counter-picked, Doran’s Gragas was also somewhat less impactful than he probably wanted. However, these issues aside, T1’s experience, combined with Ezreal’s ability to escape sticky situations, allowed them to find openings to attack and counterattack, allowing them to claim victory.
Terms
Early Game: Any time before 6 minutes, first outer tower down, or first level 6 (whichever comes first)
Mid Game: Between early Game and either 15 minutes, 2 inner turrets are down, half the players are level 11, or 3rd dragon is killed.
Late Game: Any time after mid-game.
