Rift Rivals Asia between the LCK, LPL, and LMS is a 3 region, 4 team per region battle. In the group stage, each team would play against equal seeds from other regions based on their Spring Season finishing. Day 1 started off with Royal Never Give Up bs Flash Wolves, the #1 seeds from LPL vs LMS. FW had a strong showing at MSI and continued it by beating RNG. Invictus Gaming and Machi E-Sports followed, the #4 seeds from LPL vs LMS. iG revenge the LPL by beating M17. Afreeca Freecs vs EDward Gaming, the #2 seeds from LCK vs LPL. LPL continued their streak with a win. KT Rooster vs MAD team was the next match, the #3 seeds from LCK vs LMS. KT Rooster flexed their all-star line-up and beat MAD. Machi E-Sports played for a 2nd time, this time vs SK Telecom T1, the #4 seeds from LMS vs LCK. SKT aren't your normal #4 seed with all their international experience and it showed with LCK's 2nd straight win. KT Rooster looked to continue the streak when they faced Rogue Warriors, the #3 seeds from LCK and LPL. KT continued their strong showing and extended the LCK streak to 3. At the end of Day 1, LCK were 3-1, LPL were 2-2, and LMS were 1-3.
Day 2 was not a repeat of Day 1, teams had a bit more information on each other and it was easy to see which teams were able to make adjustments. The day started off with EDward Gaming vs G-Rex, the #2 seeds from LPL vs LMS, which EDG won. Next up, was KINGZONE DragonX, who didn't play on Day 1, vs Flash Wolves, the #1 seeds from LCK vs LMS. The Flash Wolves were the only bright spot for LMS so far and they did not disappoint as they took down KZ. RW continued the LPL's Day 2 success with a win over MAD, while iG clinched LPL's 1st seed with a win over SKT. AFs secured LCK's 2nd seed as they beat GRX. And RNG rounded out a perfect day for LPL with another win over KZ. The final group stage standings were LPL in 1st at 6-2, LCK in 2nd at 4-4, and LMS in 3rd at 2-6. The LPL looked dominant, the LCK were under performing, and the LMS just didn't have enough talent other than FW.
Day 3 saw the semifinal match up between the #2 seed LCK and #3 seed LMS. The semifinals was a best of 5 with every team having to play at least once in a blind pick match up. In game 1, LCK led off with KZ vs LMS's M17. KZ finally found their winning formula and beat M17. Next up was SKT vs FW and you would expect the #1 seed FW to secure a game for LMS, but SKT played up to their opponents and ended up winning the game. LCK was up 2-0 in the series and they chose KT Rolster, their best team at Rift Rivals so far, to face off again G-Rex. This was a bit surprising as MAD, who are currently the top of the LMS, were left to wait for a potential 4th game. And the key word there is potential as KT squash that hope with a win and a clean sweep for LCK.
Day 4 was the heavily anticipated finals between the #1 seed LPL and #2 seed LCK. The finals was the exact same format as the semifinals and in game 1, LPL sent out iG vs LCK's KT Rolster. Both teams looked strong, going 2-0 in the group stage, but KT had an extra game under their belt from the semifinals and it may have proven to be the difference as LCK took game 1. Game 2 saw RNG vs SKT, the classic Uzi vs Faker battle even though they play different roles, but in this match they were many fights and interactions, which saw Uzi and RNG come out on top. The series was now tied 1-1 between the LPL and LCK. Game 3 was between EDG and AFs, and Afreeca showed off the LCK's macro style and beat out EDG, giving LCK the 2-1 series lead. Game 4 opponents RW and KZ were watching anxiously in the back and with the series at 2-1 for LCK, all the pressure was on LPL's RW to push it to a game 5. RW were LPL's 3rd seed, while KZ were LCK's 1st seed, but you might say that RW were outperforming KZ at Rift Rivals. It was a tough battle, but behind a loud Chinese crowd, RW took down the top seeded KZ and forced a game 5. KZ had another disappointing international performance and it was clearly weighing on them. The 5th and final game allowed both regions to pick teams that had already played that day, LPL went with their well battled RNG while in a surprising pick LCK went with Afreeca; many fans thought that the undefeated KT would be the prime choice but LCK staff thought differently. It wasn't long into the game that the LCK probably regretted it. RNG took control early and slowly kept building on their lead through brilliant macro play and constant pressure. Afreeca never got a foot hold into the game and were never able to force a comeback, RNG took down Afreeca and secured the Rift Rivals title for the LCL. The was the 3rd straight international title for the LPL if you count 2017 All-Stars, 2018 MSI, and now 2018 Rift Rivals. The Year of Uzi continues!
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