Dignitas have been one of the most hyped (and sometimes the most disappointing) teams of the last couple of seasons and indeed, following their last season’s impressive start against Cloud9 (a start followed in turn by disappointment in the wake of their fall all the way to 4th and 5th in the playoffs), they’re now back on the hype-train, looking more solid than ever, thanks to their impressive – and thus far dominant – solo laners, as well as to their equally solid 5-1 record, which has them planted in the top spot of the NA standings.
Their last match against Team Solomid (TSM) was clear testimony to their newfound consistency, something which may hint to the fact that this time around these guys really mean business, looking to brush that flash-in-pan monkey of last season off their backs for good.
Having gone for radically different builds (TSM went for a really strong front-line, featuring two tanks topped off by Bjergsen’s Lulu shields, while Dignitas opted for a split-laning setup, based on Lee Sin (Crumbzz), Nami (Kiwikid), Ezreal (Imaqtpie) and Ziggs (Shiphtur)), the two teams kicked the match off on a cautious note which slowly morphed into an objective-based slug-fest. With the exception of one baron-related slip-up, Dignitas put Mohammad Ali to shame dancing around their opponents and masterfully picking their fights. TSM’s heavy hitters neutralized by their opponents’ tactical prowess, they eventually found themselves dragged into late-game on the wrong foot.
A hot-headed rush to the finish this was not. First blood was drawn around the 24 minute mark, when Imaqtpie smoked Bjergsen following a 3-man dive at the tier 2 bottom turret.
The above said slip-up around the baron started out by Dignitas having secured positional advantage and having started up on the baron. TSM jumped in to contest though and it all ended with Wildturtle killing crumbzz as well as the baron.
The next baron proved to be the beginning of the end for TSM: they started it up and woke up with Dignitas all over them. When the dust settled, 4 of the TSM guys were dead, as Dig ran over them roughshod with no losses, taking the baron as well.
The inhibitors came down shortly thereafter, followed by the nexus.
The bottom line: Dignitas played this one perfectly. They took their time picking their fights and farming away (ZionSpartan did that successfully all game) until they felt ready to strike, by which time TSM had been left with no answers to their superior mobility and overwhelming AoE.
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