A comprehensive recap and strategic analysis of the LCS 2021 Championship playoffs, including team performances and key moments.
LCS 2021 Championship: Playoffs Schedule & Results
The 2021 LCS Championship concluded a fiercely competitive season, determining which three squads would carry North America’s banner to the League of Legends World Championship.
The LCS 2021 season reached its climax with the Summer Playoffs, where 100 Thieves emerged victorious after a year of intense competition. This guide breaks down the entire playoff journey, from the opening rounds to the championship-deciding sweep.
- 100 Thieves secured the LCS Summer 2021 title with a decisive 3-0 victory over Team Liquid.
- Both 100 Thieves and Team Liquid earned direct qualification to the main event of Worlds 2021.
- Cloud9 also advanced to Worlds 2021 but must first navigate the play-in stage to reach the group phase.
The playoff bracket culminated with 100 Thieves decisively seizing the North American top seed after an impeccable performance against Team Liquid. This victory was not just a match win but a statement of dominance.
This championship marked a historic achievement for the 100 Thieves organization, capturing its first LCS trophy since entering the league and representing a massive turnaround from its struggles the previous year.
TAKE WHAT’S NOT GIVEN.
NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS 💯🏆🔥#100T #LCS pic.twitter.com/x7smWweTvZ
— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) August 29, 2021
100 Thieves demonstrated consistent superiority throughout the season, ending the regular phase in second place with a 29-16 record, narrowly trailing TSM by a single victory. Under the leadership of veteran top laner Kim ‘Ssumday’ Chan-ho, the team maintained its momentum into the finals, effortlessly defeating a strong Team Liquid squad 3-0.
Prior to the finals, 100 Thieves engaged in a grueling five-game series against Evil Geniuses, with the pivotal Game 4 serving as a breakout showcase for that year’s Rookie of the Year, Kyle ‘Danny’ Sakamaki, who announced himself as a formidable new talent.
In another playoff shocker, a resurgent Team Liquid overpowered the first-seeded TSM with a 3-1 scoreline, sending the regular-season leaders into the lower bracket much earlier than anticipated.
Evil Geniuses’ playoff run ended shortly after, eliminated by Cloud9 in the lower bracket. The defending champions efficiently dispatched EG and their promising rookie Danny, closing the chapter on their tournament.
Attention now shifts to the 2021 World Championship, where North American fans will rally behind their three representatives as they compete for international glory.
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The playoff action commenced on August 7 and continued through August 13. The upper bracket kicked off with matches featuring Cloud9 versus Team Liquid and 100 Thieves versus Evil Geniuses. Teams like 100 Thieves and TSM enjoyed the advantage of starting in the second round of the upper bracket due to their higher regular-season finishes.
The championship weekend was held on August 28-29. The final elimination matches took place at the LCS studio in Los Angeles after Riot Games adjusted its original plans for the event location.
All eight qualifying LCS teams finalized their playoff rosters ahead of the tournament, with the roster lock occurring immediately following the Summer Split’s conclusion.
LCS 2021 Championship: Qualified Teams
Three teams earned the right to represent the LCS at Worlds 2021, each following a distinct path through the playoffs. Understanding their journeys provides insight into NA’s regional strength and strategic approaches heading into the global tournament.
100 Thieves (1st Seed – Champions): Their dominant playoff run, capped by a flawless finals performance, earned them the coveted first seed. A key to their success was remarkable consistency; they rarely deviated from their proactive, objective-focused game plan, which often forced opponents into reactive positions. Teams aiming to replicate this should focus on establishing a clear, executable identity and drilling it until it becomes second nature, especially under high-pressure finals conditions.
Team Liquid (2nd Seed – Runner-up): Liquid secured direct qualification by reaching the finals. Their playoff resurgence after eliminating TSM demonstrated the importance of mid-tournament adaptation. A common mistake for teams in double-elimination brackets is peaking too early. Liquid managed their momentum effectively, saving their best strategic adjustments for the later stages. Advanced players should study how Liquid shifted their draft priorities and jungle pathing between series to counter specific opponents.
Cloud9 (3rd Seed – Lower Bracket): Cloud9 qualified via the lower bracket and must enter Worlds through the play-in stage. Their path highlights the peril of the upper-bracket loss. Losing early to Team Liquid forced them into a grueling lower-bracket run, expending strategic resources and revealing champion pools earlier than desired. The practical tip for teams in this position is to maintain a deep, flexible champion pool for multiple best-of-five series and to manage player stamina, as the lower bracket is both a mental and physical marathon.
Strategic Analysis & Common Pitfalls: The 2021 playoffs underscored several critical lessons. First, regular-season standings provided a significant advantage, with top seeds avoiding the first round. However, as TSM learned, this advantage means nothing without playoff preparedness. A major pitfall is failing to evolve meta-reads from the regular season. Secondly, the emergence of a star rookie like Danny can be a double-edged sword; while it provides a explosive win condition, teams can become over-reliant on a single player’s pop-off performance, making them predictable. Optimization for advanced play involves building systems that allow stars to shine while maintaining multiple, reliable avenues to victory.
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