On the 20th, Day 2 of the 'LoL National Team Evaluation Match' between South Korea and Vietnam took place at the Busan Cinema Center. After a shaky start with a Game 1 loss, South Korea claimed three consecutive games to complete a 'loss-win-win-win' series victory. In particular, they demonstrated immense resilience in Game 3 by pulling off a massive comeback from a heavily disadvantaged position.
South Korea suffered a shock loss in Game 1. Taking the lead through precise macro play, South Korea seemed to control the momentum after securing the Baron. However, after 'Zeus' Choi Woo-je's Gragas was caught out, they repeatedly forced teamfights at a disadvantage, leading to crushing defeats. As a result, the Cloud Soul went to Vietnam, allowing them to complete the turnaround.
In Game 2, South Korea successfully struck back. South Korea and Vietnam engaged in a fierce contest, exchanging blow for blow. Unlike the previous game, South Korea steadily stacked dragon buffs to pressure Vietnam. This translated into teamfight victories at the third and fourth dragons, and after scoring a clean Ace in the final top-lane fight, South Korea secured the win in Game 2.
Game 3 saw a dramatic comeback from South Korea. Starting with a solo kill, 'Zeus' on Camille stacked up multiple kills in consecutive top-lane skirmishes to become massively accelerated. However, Vietnam continued to score plays on the opposite side of the map, and ahead of the third dragon, they successfully claimed Camille's shutdown. Following this, South Korea accumulated losses against Vietnam's aggressive macro. A decisive stealth Baron attempt also ended in an Ace for Vietnam.
However, around the 32-minute mark, a miraculous teamfight unfolded. As the main force absorbed a turn of Vietnam's offensive, Camille engaged to take down 'Dire's Ahri, while 'Keria' Ryu Min-seok's Poppy knocked away 'Eddie's Ezreal, creating a critical gap in Vietnam's damage output. Sweeping up four kills, South Korea followed up a Baron steal by 'Canyon's Nocturne by taking the Elder Dragon as well, advancing with the Elder buff to destroy Vietnam's Nexus.
In Game 4, 'Hizto's Trundle actively ganked lanes to snowball the early game. However, with appropriate responses from 'Zeus's Gnar and 'Faker's Anivia, South Korea steadily accumulated kill points of their own. Although the kill score remained tied, all other metrics favored South Korea. Monopolizing dragons and towers alike, they widened the lead to over 4,000 gold.
With their performance back on track, South Korea was relentless. Proactively seeking fights, they snowballed the game rapidly. Although overextending cost them four deaths at one point, 'Gumayusi's Caitlyn extinguished the threat with a double kill. Led by Caitlyn's explosive damage output, South Korea won the final teamfight decisively to close out the match.
