Preview: Virtus.pro vs. M19 in Continental League semi-finals

Our League of Legends roster is to face M19 in the semi-finals of the LCL 2017 Spring Split. The winner will advance to the grand final, scheduled for April 9.

Tournament standings and current form

Virtus.pro placed third in the tournament standings at the end of the league’s regular season. M19 ranked above our team, advancing to the play-offs from the second place. The defending champions got into swing as the season went on, while VP was winding down, losing crucial matches against tournament favorites. M19’s showing in Katowice, where they’d been facing strong opponents, had left an impression on their playstyle.

M19 are a staple of all previous finals. These guys have been doing a great job; at some point into the season, they were able to find a winning playstyle that suited them. They’re a tough opponent, and they’ll probably be outplaying us in the late game. — Daniel “Blasting” Kudrin

Our League of Legends roster met with a serious challenge this season. After a convincing start, matches would often go into a shaky late game, as the team struggled to maintain the lead and the necessary level of aggression. Nevertheless, Virtus.pro’s debut season has seen some outstanding play from the team, as evidenced by the advancement to the league play-offs.

Head-to-head games

Virtus.pro played M19 twice during the group stage. In the first match, the Bears emerged ahead in the early game and were close to victory, but made a series of mistakes in the late game. A key role in M19’s victory was played by PvPStejos, whose actions became the starting point for the defending champions’ comeback in the game.

The second encounter between the two teams unfolded quite differently. VP were stronger in the bottom lane, but fast and aggressive play from Smurf and PvPStejos allowed M19 to take the lead. Virtus.pro tried to find a thread to unravel M19’s tactics, but the season favorite’s key advantages made full-scale resistance impossible.

We have a good mind to show what we can do, playing our own game without fearing the opponent. There must be no mistakes, and the opponent’s aggression must be punished. — Moo (team coach)

Where to watch the match

A Russian-language live stream will be available to those who wish to watch Virtus.pro in the second semi-final of the Continental League Spring Split.

We’ve got a few things up our sleeves that we may or may not pull out (of course we will). But we have a plan for winning the regular way too. All players have their minds set on victory, and M19 certainly isn’t in for an easy fight. Everyone will give it their all, they’re a strong opponent, but we aren’t simple either. — Ivan “Paranoia” Tipukhov

The second grand final spot will be decided on April 2 at 15:00 CET.