Matches (All are BO1):
100 Thieves v TSM

Team Liquid v CLG

Evil Geniuses v Cloud9

Team Dignitas v Flyquest

Counter Logic Gaming v Golden Guardians (NOT ON SLATE)

It is finally time to start seeing some North American League of Legends! The Lock In Tournament is now the North American attempt to model the LCK’s (KeSPA Cup) and LPL’s (Demacia Cup) preseason tournaments. Some big expectations are following some teams and players entering the season. Finding out what the big signs, marquee transfers, and organization shake up’s will change the face of the LCS is what makes this even more exciting! Without further adieu, time to go to work! 

Game #1: 100 Thieves v Team Solomid

Cann’s Pick: 100 Thieves

Game #2: Team Liquid v Counter Logic Gaming

Cann’s Pick: Team Liquid

Game #3: Evil Geniuses v Cloud9

Cann’s Pick: Cloud9

Game #4: Team Dignitas v Flyquest

Cann’s PIck: Flyquest

Game #5: Counter Logic Gaming v Golden Guardians

Cann’s Pick: Golden Guardians

 

Captain

Favorite: Perkz (C9: $11,400) Perkz might be the biggest pick up in all of North American Esports in terms of imports. Perkz has been a cornerstone of European League of Legends, dominating from both the mid lane and then moving over to ADC. He had switched positions to allow his previous team, G2 Esports, the ability to sign Europe’s best player in Caps. Perkz wanted to return to his preferred role so in a blockbuster deal, G2 sent him to a new region for a Brinks truck worth of cash. The eyes will all be on Perkz this split and I would not expect him to have such a cheap price tag in the Captain role moving forward. 

Value Pick: FBI (100T: $10,500) I think jumping on 100 Thieves is the play in this tournament. Four of the five players on the squad played together with the Golden Guardians last year. Throughout the entire 2020 season I was a stan for the take that the top lane was holding that team back. It appears like the four of them (Closer, Demonte, FBI, and huhi) agreed with me… as did 100T. They ditched Hauntzer and kept their world class top laner Ssumday. This team is projected to end up anywhere between third and fifth and most of that success should come on the back of FBI.

Top Lane

Favorite: Alphari (TL: $6,800) He has been saved! One of the best top laners in the entire world has been saved from the depths of hell… and by that I mean Origen. Origen was one of the hardest teams to watch in the LEC and it was clear that mahy games they had won because of the individual skill of Alphari and the pressure he created in the top lane. Coming to play for TL in the top lane gives him not only a legitimate shot at winning a domestic title, but depending on how the team grows, Team Liquid could become a real threat on the World stage.  

Value Pick: Licorice (FLY: $6,400) I don’t like the Flyquest roster as a whole, and they are definitely without their flashy jungle import in Josedeodo. That being said, Flyquest is playing probably a bottom three roster in North America in Team Dignitas. Much like as we have seen in the LPL and LCK, the Meta shift towards allowing top laners being able to make more of an impact during the laning phase allows gifted players like Licorice to shine. 

Jungle

Favorite: Blaber (C9: $7,200) Before their historic collapse at the end of the Summer Split in 2020, Cloud9 was by far the most dominant team in North America. Most of that is because of the skill and unmatched aggression that Cloud9 brought to the table with their carry jungler. In Spring 2020 he had almost a seven KDA and was an animal. I think the introduction of Perkz will help him out by adding another technically skilled player to help outclass opponents this year. 

Value Pick: Armao (TL: $6,600) I couldn’t pick Armao out of a lineup if my life depended on it. With the actual starting jungler for TL (Santorin) having visa issues, Armao is going to get the nod for the time being. I would normally stay away from him but seeing as they are playing CLG who is having to use a sub for their jungler Broxah I give the edge here to the better lineup altogether. I think there are better junglers, but TL should absolutely roll through this match. 

Mid Lane

Favorite: Perkz (C9: $7,600) NA’s savior has arrived. In his secondary role Perkz has been to plenty of World’s Semifinals. Enough said here. 

Value Pick: PowerOfEvil (TSM: $7,000) POE is an interesting player. He has what seems to be trust issues because he has become a journeyman around League of Legends. He normally focuses on his own lane and will build such a tremendous lead that the enemy team has to work really hard to get the game back under control. His opponent (Damonte) is a serviceable mid laner but has tried in the past to do too much. I worry about TSM actually closing out the game against 100T, but they should definitely get at least an early lead in the mid lane.    

ADC

Favorite: Zven (C9: $7,800) Captain consistent here. There are few games in which Zven actually will “carry” his team and lead in kills. Instead Zven has mastered the art of just being where he is supposed to be and when he needs to be there. I expect Zven to have a classic 5-1-13 type game and rack up huge points. Not to trigger too many C9 fans, but maybe just keep him off of Ezreal. 

Value Pick: Johnsun (FLY: $7,400) Johnsun and Aphromoo were the shining lights on a pretty dim Team Dignitas team last year. Johnsun has the makings of a future star in the LCS. On an abysmal roster, Johnsun was still able to hold a 4.09 KDA in the spring split and a 3.94 KDA in the summer split. While he struggled in the Summer Playoffs, I think a new look on Flyquest with solid teammates could give him the boost he needs to take his game to the next level.   

Support

Favorite: CoreJJ (TL: $5,800) He is a previous World Champion. He is a 2x LCS Champion. He is an LCS MVP in two different splits. And he is a three-time All Pro in the LCS as well. I think what makes him such a favorite on almost any slate for me is his poise and how he controls the game. He took an unproven rookie in TL’s ADC Tactical and made him one of the faces of the LCS in one split. I feel sympathy for CLG tomorrow, even with Santorin tomorrow, I see TL winning every lane convincingly.  

Value Pick: SwordArt (TSML $5,400) The only import that may have been just as exciting as Perkz was TSM picking up LPL superstar SwordArt. SwordArt coming from the LMS originally, his engage/roam heavy playstyle looks a lot like Kieser (MAD Lions) but also will make the flashy in-lane plays that normally define the quality of a support. In 2020, SwardArt racked up a staggering 712 assists through 83 games and with his focus on roaming, he had a 68% kill participation while on Suning. While I am not sure about Lost yet, I am excited to see the plays TSM’s jungler (Spica) and SwordArt will pull off this year. 

Team

Favorite: Team Liquid ($5,600) With their jungler (Santorin) out on visa issues for the time being, I don’t think TL wins this tournament. I do think that the quality across the roster will be evident and they should roll CLG,  who has the oddest collection of washed up talent and unproven young players. 

Value Pick: 100 Thieves ($4,800) This is a spicier pick. 100 Thieves has synergy between four out of the five players on this roster. TSM is only returning one player from 2020. I think it will take some time to work out the kinks and 100 Thieves should be able to take advantage of that. I also think TSM’s top laner (Huni) is the most unpredictable player in the LCS. He could either solo carry or solo lose this game for them. 

Cann’s Example Lineup

The Example Lineups are meant to show how you can build a lineup based on the players mentioned in the Playbook. They are not meant to be plugged and played.

Captain (x1.5): Jensen ($11,100)

     Alternate: Zven ($11,700)

Top: Alphari ($6,800)

Jungle: Blaber

     Alternate: Spica ($6,400)

Mid: Perkz ($7,600)

ADC: FBI ($7,000)

     Alternate: Lost ($7,200)

Support: huhi ($5,200)

Team: 100 Thieves ($4,800)