Team of the Week: OPL Split 2, Week 1

This column looks to name five of the highest performers across the competition each round, from a hyper-carry performance from the mid lane to a rock-in-the-top outing from a top laner or a perfectly played supporting role.

Week one is always an exciting time for any competition, it’s where you get to see where teams are at. Have they initially met your expectations or are they underperforming? Before you mark off week one, let’s go through the players who impressed us this week, cementing themselves into the first Team of the Week for Split 2, 2019.

Chippys

Ryan Short – Avant Gaming

Chippys got his season off to a flying start in game one against Gravitas picking up First Blood on his comfort champ; Camille. Following a quiet midgame, Avant Gaming began seizing control giving Chippys a platform for begin bullying a Pabu’s hapless Fiora. Chippys was able to finish with a 700g bounty on top of his 7/2/8 scoreline and 70% kill participation.

Chippys again on Camille, had a solid game against the Bombers despite not securing the win. He held his own in the volatile match-up against Mimic’s Irelia; however unfortunately for Chippys, ry0ma’s Azir proved too difficult to overcome with arguably the best carry performance for the weekend.

Babip

Leo Romer – Mammoth

When you’re the only undefeated team in the OPL and you had to beat the Chiefs to hold that record, it’s hard not to sing the praises of the whole squad. Babip was ever present for his team with his Sejuani partaking in 80% of Mammoth’s kills against the Chiefs and with a clutch Glacial Prison, he lead the charge onto Raes’ Ezreal to close out the game.

Babip had a solid second game, quietly building up a lead and helping his team when required, his biggest galaxy brain play was smiting and auto attacking Praelus for a kill and then securing the Baron all while on 130 HP if you don’t mind! Babip’s consistent performance in the jungle this weekend locks him in place for Team of the Week.

Triple

Stephen Li – Mammoth

Triple’s Akali saw a shaky start from a teleport to top lane that went awry, but quickly made amends by cleaning house in a 4v4 skirmish near Rift Herald, making his presence felt around the map. While rarely carrying the gold lead, Mammoth were able to stage a comeback victory against the Chiefs after k1ng’s Sivir came online.

Game two was right out of the Morgana textbook, playing a more supportive role, Triple was clearing waves and making an impact in the side lanes. Going deathless, Triple was never threatened while helping lockdown 90% of Mammoth’s kills and ending the match with a supportive, 2/0/16 scoreline.

Raes

Quin Korebrits – Chiefs Esports Club

The Chiefs Esports Club’s “perfect” player had another incredible weekend, with a very impressive performance despite the team’s loss to Mammoth. At one stage his Ezreal held a nine kills to one death and was looking like it could take over the whole game.

On a repeat performance on the Prodigal Explorer, Raes got himself a moment of retribution taking the Dire Wolves to the cleaners in what was a dominant performance from the start, snowballing his 20 cs lead in lane and picking up turret plates to ending the game deathless with a 6/0/9 score line, an absolute clinical performance.

Rogue

Jake Sharwood – Bombers

Having a longstanding partnership with FBI who has now left to greener pastures, I was interested to see how Rogue would perform with a new laning partner and whether or not he would be able to become the focal point in the bottom lane. In their game against Order despite not having a great opportunity to show off his strengths, there were glimpses like the excellent pick on Jayke’s Lux 9 minutes in to the game.

Against Avant Gaming, Rogue pulled out Galio and with a highlight play in the midgame he flew to the aid of Mimic and turn a 1v3 dive quickly into a 3v3 with the assistance of ry0ma. Combo-ing Hero’s Entrance into a three-man taunt cleaning up on Avant’s botched assault. Rogue continued to deliver on his role as an immense front line for the rest of the game and let ry0ma take the wheel to drive the game home in their closing game of week one.

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The Oceanic Pro League returns on Friday afternoon at 4pm AEDT where Raes and the Chiefs will faceoff against Gravitas.

Disagree with the list? Feel another player had a stronger performance and deserved the recognition? Feel free to voice your concerns to @AWray7 and @stickmansan.