League of Legends is a highly popular video game that has spawned an international network of professional eSports leagues. The European version is the 2020 League of Legends European Championship (LEC). The professional competition in Europe is in its eighth year (in its second as the LEC). Currently, the league is in its playoffs, with a semifinal matchup between MAD Lions and G2 Esports set to take place on Saturday, April 18. The teams will play in a best-of-five match. Take a look at the league standings and our League of Legends Betting Odds thoughts on this clash.
eSports: League of Legends LEC Matches: April 18
League of Legends LEC Spring 2020 Final Standings
- G2 Esports 15-3
- Fnatic 13-5
- Origen 13-5
- MAD Lions 11-7
- Misfits Gaming 10-8
- Rogue 9-9
- Excel Esports 7-11
- FC Schalke 04 6-12
- SK Gaming 4-14
- Team Vitality 2-16
Playoff Format
The top six teams advance to the playoffs. The top four seeds advance to the winner’s bracket. The fifth and sixth seeds play to open the losers’ bracket. In the first round of the winner’s bracket, the top seed picks its opponent (either the third or fourth seed). The bracket is double-elimination, with the loser’s bracket moving via king-of-the-mountain format to the second semifinal.
Playoff Results (as of April 16) (all matches best-of-five)
Winner’s Bracket
- MAD Lions d. G2, 3-2
- Fnatic d. Origen, 3-1
Loser’s Bracket
- Rogue d. Misfits Gaming, 3-1 (Misfits Gaming eliminated)
- Origen d. Rogue, 3-1 (Rogue eliminated)
- G2 d. Origen, 3-1 (Origen eliminated)
Winner’s Semifinal
Fnatic d. MAD Lions, 3-0
Loser’s Semifinal
MAD Lions vs G2 (April 18)Grand Final
Fnatic vs Winner of Loser’s SemifinalMAD Lions (5.08) vs G2 (1.14) (11:00 am ET)
Despite the fact that MAD Lions knocked off G2 in the first round of the winner’s bracket, they come in as the heavy underdogs. G2 finished in first place in the LEC Spring 2020 regular season, which serves as the basis for the disparity in odds. Even so, the two teams have met four times overall, with each team winning two. MAD Lions also won when the teams met in Spring 2020 Group Stage play on February 22.
MAD Lions took a bad beating at the hands of Fnatic on April 11, losing 3-0. It will be interesting to see whether they can rebound from that and knock off G2 twice in the same playoffs. G2 delivered an overwhelming 3-1 victory over Origen to advance to the loser’s bracket semifinals. While it might be tempting to go with the value that MAD Lions represents, that rout that Fnatic delivered may have exposed the weaknesses that MAD Lions brought into the playoffs. Here, the smart pick is the favorite.
Prediction: G2 wins, 3-1.
