After a handing MVP White a loss in Group B, Azubu Frost looked forward to their next, and more formidable opponents, Najin Sword. Najin Sword also won their first game against LG Incredible Miracle in convincing fashion so it was easy to assume this match would be exciting to see.

Azubu Frost and Najin Sword were two of the great teams to make it out of the group stages and deep into the Season 2 playoffs, with AZF of course going much farther. They were also two of the teams that never got face each other in the playoffs, so that made this match much more interesting. Heres how picks and bans went:

Azubu Frost

Bans: Evelynn, Orianna, Jayce

Picks:

• Sona (MadLife)
• Irelia (Shy)
• Maokai (CloudTemplar)
• Anivia (RapidStar)
• Kog'Maw (Woong)

Najin Sword

Bans: Jax, Skarner, Shen

Picks:

• Ezreal (Pray)
• Lee Sin (Watch)
• Katarina (Ssong)
• Malphite (Maknoon)
• Zyra (Cain)

There were pretty standard bans, especially the ones directed at the top lane. AZF didn't want to deal with Maknoon's Jayce and NS did their homework, knowing that Shy's Jax and Shen were top notch. When it comes to team composition NS definitely seemed to get the better end of the deal, but Maknoon's Malphite pick was interesting. Malphite is a great top champion but we haven't seen Maknoon play him much in the past, and it seems like the team needed an initiation other than Zyra's ult and Unstoppable Force fit the bill. Regardless, NS's team was all about a fast pace and high impact style.

AZF had a more standard lineup, with champions that could both protect Kog'Maw as well as initiate and create chaos. RapidStar on Anivia and Woong on Kog'Maw would become terrifying in the late game if NS didn't do their best to shut them down. In my opinion, AZF had a better initiation comp and the super late game advantage.

In the early game it was clear that NS wanted to disrupt Shy and make sure he doesn't become strong enough to dive Ezreal in the late game. Both RapidStar and Ssong roamed up there to see if they can help get first blood and Katarina succeeds, putting Shy behind. Meanwhile in the bottom, it was apparent that NS's Ezreal/Zyra combo was going to have issues with AZF's Kog/Sona as Zyra went down early, nearly giving Kog a double kill. The score was even at 1-1 eight minutes into the game.

NS took advantage of the early game by contesting RapidStar's blue buff with Malphite and Katarina, prompting Irelia and Maokai to come help. AZF would pay for that decision by getting decimated by a perfect Malphite ult from Maknoon and the follow up ult from Katarina, killing Anivia and Irelia. A blue pilling Maokai tried to escape but was caught by Lee Sin's Q and destroyed, making the score 2-4 at the 11-minute mark.

NS would only enjoy that lead for a few minutes though, as AZF gathered to kill the dragon, not knowing that Lee Sin solo'd it earlier. Three members of the dragon squad descended to the bottom lane and started a 3v3 fight. Zyra went down early but helped taked out Maokai. Kog'Maw was let loose and dismantled both Ezreal and Lee Sin, making Woong 4-0.

NS took the majority of the dragons through out the game to keep their gold advantage but a fed Woong was beginning to worry them. NS decided to bait Baron to see if they could catch a straggler and Shy bit. Despite Woong doing well, Shy was 0-4 at 25 minutes.

A few minutes later it was AZF who decided to bait Baron, but NS doesn't bite, instead they decide to push AZF's mid tier 2 tower, forcing AZF to close in on them. NS tries to run into the bottom jungle but is separated by great wall placement from Anivia, forcing a fight to break out. The ensuing fight leads to a 4 for 4 exchange that fed kills to RapidStar's Anivia.

After they rezzed, AZF booked it to Baron and were able to take it, but NS followed through and made sure most of them didn't survive the aftermath, taking the Baron buff away from Irelia, Maokai and Kog'Maw. With only 2 members with Baron AZF decided they couldn't do an massive pushes, but decide to finally contest the dragon. Anivia gets a terrific wall off separating Maknoon from the team, feeding the kill to Malphite. However, the follow up came from Katarina who went on a rampage and earned herself a quadra kill before falling to Anivia. The score as 16-20 in favor of NS at the 34-minute mark.

Late Game This is where it got extremely exciting. Zyra got caught and was killing, prompting AZF to head straight for Baron. NS tried to contest it and Katarina got a kill off on Maokai leaving them smiteless. NS successfully disengaged but AZF stayed at Baron with Anivia hiding in NS's red brush waiting for the remaining members of NS to contest. They come and Anivia completes an ace but sacrifices himself in the process.

With 4-members with Baron, AZF pushes straight up NS's mid tower, but underestimated their burst damage, especially Katarinas, allowing NS to ace AZF in return. That fight let NS take AZF's mid inhibitor.

The Key Fight: Malphite gets walled off by Anivia and CC'd into oblivion. He couldn't get his initiation off and it led to a 4 for 1 exchange in favor of AZF, prompting them to push for the 28-30 win. AZF won regardless of having less kills.

The MVP: MVP for this game has to go to RapidStar, although Woong did a tremendous job as Kog'Maw. RapidStar's walls were game breaking for AZF and his sacrifice at Baron was amazing.

Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com