Rift Rivals started with another grudge match between NA vs EU and this time it was ARURF Show Match "for Fun". NA fielded a line-up of FOX Huni, 100T Levi, TL Pobelter, TL Doublelift, and 100T aphromoo, while EU sent out SPY Odoamne, G2 Jankos, G2 Perkz, FNC Rekkles, and SPY kaSing. NA sent top laner Huni and jungler Levi into the top lane as a powerful duo, while EU chose to roam with their jungler and 4-man gank various lanes. It was a bloody match with an average of 2 kills per minute in the early game. Eventually NA slowly took control by running 4 heroes down mid while EU tried to split push and spread the map. The deathball strategy eventually prevailed as NA were able to take inhibitors and slowly overwhelming EU until the point where they fountain camped them to death.
Now it was onto the Group Stage portion of the event with the opening match between Fnatic and Echo Fox. Both teams came into Rift Rivals at 4-2 and so this was going to be a close match. It was a long and bloody affair with Fnatic coming out on top. The day continued with Team Liquid beating Splyce, G2 beating 100 Thieves, and Echo Fox bouncing back against the lowly Splyce. The day ended with NA and EU being tied up at 2-2.
Day 2 started with TL continuing their strong play with a win over Fnatic, but G2 were also looking to flex their strength as they beat Echo Fox. Fnatic faced off against 100T in Game 3 to push EU to Group Stage point as the series was 4-3 in favour of EU. The next match was a battle of the 2 undefeated teams so far in groups, TL and G2. TL needed to win to give NA a chance at the Group Stage, but G2 proved to be too strong. 100T ended up winning the last game to round out the series at 5-4 for EU; giving them the counter pick for the first 3 games in the finals.
NA decided to lead with Echo Fox, which EU countered with G2; being undefeated in groups, it was a strong move and they were looking to take an early lead. But instead Echo Fox showed just how good they could be by beating G2 and giving NA a 1-0 lead. Next up was 100T vs Fnatic and Fnatic came through when EU needed a win to tie the series 1-1. By elimination next was Team Liquid vs Splyce. Splyce were winless in the group stage, but stranger things have happened in international events and this was no exception as Splyce battled and fought their way to a victory over the top team in NA. EU were feeling good at 2-1 and now it was the blind pick phase of the Finals. NA chose Echo Fox who beat G2 earlier in the day and EU picked Fnatic who beat 100T. Fnatic repeated the result from the first game of Rift Rivals, beating Echo Fox once again and giving the Rift Rivals title to EU.
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