With this win, MAD Lions will face Evil Geniuses in a Bo5 to qualify for Worlds 2022 Main Event while we say goodbye to Saigon Buffalo.
MAD Lions vs Saigon Buffalo Game 1
In the early game, both teams had clear strategies. While MAD Lions were focused on getting their top side ahead, Buffalo’s seemed to be all-in on Shogun who created a big early game lead for himself. Accordingly, teams divided the early game objectives with Herald going to MAD and the first drake to Buffalo. Shogun’s Caitlyn getting ahead gave Buffalo an avenue in this game but their top side couldn’t match MAD’s at no point in the game. MAD was better playing side lanes and pressuring their opponent around the map, so their gold lead grew more even in a low-kill game. Eventually MAD found the kills they were looking for in a mid lane fight and got themselves a Baron. With the Baron, they took down three inhibitors, and after that Buffalo couldn’t hold onto the game much longer.
Triple kill for @Nisqy!! #goMAD pic.twitter.com/GDWvMxOJ1d
— MAD Lions Updates English (@MADUpdates_EN) October 3, 2022
- Teams: MAD 1 – 0 SGB
- Time: 31:50
- Kills: 16 – 6
- Turrets: 11 – 3
- Gold: 65.2k – 54.8k
- Dragons: 2 – 2
- Barons: 1 – 0
MAD Lions vs Saigon Buffalo Game 2
Saigon locked in Vayne top for Hasmed for Game 2 and he was dominating his lane against Armut’s Gnar in the early game. But it wasn’t the only lane SGB was ahead as MAD tried to dive both and gave away two free kills to their opponents. MAD kept trying to find some kills in the early game and succeeded at some, but SGB was the team that got the kills when it mattered around the objectives which meant they were 5k ahead at 15 minutes. SGB had an overdove at the MAD’s top tier two, but they dusted off quickly and secured a Baron after a pick on Nisqy. This Baron was enough for Buffalo to end the game and answer with a very fast game two.
ALL ABOARD THE @NISQY EXPRESS! #Worlds2022 pic.twitter.com/DXuMTIYZXp
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 3, 2022
- Teams: MAD 1 – 1 SGB
- Time: 24:33
- Kills: 7 – 17
- Turrets: 1 – 10
- Gold: 41.9k – 50.6k
- Dragons: 0 – 2
- Barons: 0 – 1
MAD Lions vs Saigon Buffalo Game 3
Another interesting draft in Game 3 with MAD pulling out the Bel’Veth once again and SGB with the Shen support/Lillia top. The game also delivered as Elyoya walked around the map getting kills in the early game, five kills in five minutes for MAD, and three of them on the star jungler. While SGB found some good kills back and got the first drake of the game, MAD kept the pace of the game fast with the Heralds and grew their advantage to over 8k. With this lead SGB could not establish any vision on the map so they kept getting caught, eventually leading to a Baron and MAD answered SGB with an even faster victory.
Starting STRONG! 💪 #goMAD pic.twitter.com/Egx9PprQW4
— MAD Lions Updates English (@MADUpdates_EN) October 3, 2022
- Teams: SGB 1 – 2 MAD
- Time: 23:16
- Kills: 9 – 19
- Turrets: 0 – 9
- Gold: 36.5k – 50.5k
- Dragons: 1 – 1
- Barons: 0 – 1
MAD Lions vs Saigon Buffalo Game 4
The start of Game 4 was very reminiscent of the previous one as we had an early fight in the bot lane but SGB’s dive attempt went disastrous as MAD’s rotation was on time and the EU team took four kills while giving up none. And they also took both early objectives, giving themselves another early 2k gold lead. Despite MAD’s early lead and compositional advantage, SGB were having success in some of the teamfights, even getting an ace. But the fights got harder with time, especially so when MAD got themselves a Baron and started sieging. BeanJ and Froggy’s efforts weren’t enough as SGB got caught at the mid lane while Soul was spawning and got aced. With two inhibitors down, MAD had no trouble ending the game, and the series.
#MADWIN @MADLions_EN eliminate @MrBuffalo7 and face @EvilGeniuses for a spot in the #Worlds2022 Group Stage! pic.twitter.com/ODQ5QivW5X
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 3, 2022
- Teams: SGB 1 – 3 MAD
- Time: 33:19
- Kills: 14 – 22
- Turrets: 6 – 10
- Gold: 59.7k – 64.3k
- Dragons: 3 – 2
- Barons: 0 – 1
Remaining Play-In schedule
Elimination round, October 3
Qualification round, October 4
- 1 PM CDT (8 PM CEST)
- Evil Geniuses vs MAD Lions
- 6 PM CDT (12 AM CEST)
- Royal Never Give Up vs TBD
For more coverage on Worlds 2022 Play-in and the main event, you can follow us on ESTNN.