In a bloody matchup of League of Legends Pro League titans, EDward Gaming secured third place for the Spring Split against OMG on Sunday in Shanghai with a 3-2 series win.
OMG picked up an early first blood at three minutes to start Game 1, but EDG still earned a gold lead through objective control, securing first tower gold in the mid lane. EDward Gaming snowballed its lead with a 2-for-0 teamfight in OMG's jungle, leading to a Rift Herald buff and 3-for-1 follow-up fight at 19 minutes. Taking a Baron shortly afterwards, EDG soared as mid laner Lee "Scout" Ye-chan's Orianna had a brilliant performance in Game 1, dealing a game-high 21,400 damage while posting a 7/2/4 KDA (kills/deaths/assists). Methodically picking OMG apart, EDG took a second Baron at 29 minutes before closing out Game 1 in 33 minutes.
EDG got an early gold lead thanks to the returning jungler Ming "Clearlove" Kai's Kha'Zix, who picked up early kills as the team entered a stalemate in the mid game. At the 20-minute mark, OMG held a gold lead of 2,100 gold, pulling ahead through leads in towers, Elemental Drakes, and kills. A 22-minute Baron empowered it to take a 4-for-0 teamfight to crack open EDG's base, seemingly setting up a game-winning push, but disaster struck when OMG attempted a second Baron at 30 minutes. Clearlove successfully stole the Baron for EDG, turning the ensuing fight 3-for-0 in EDG's favor and threatening to make an improbable comeback happen. OMG tried to take the Elder Dragon at 36 minutes when Clearlove stole a second epic monster kill of the game, but OMG followed up with a 4-for-0 fight to close out the game in 37 minutes.
Kicking off Game 3 with a bang, EDward Gaming held a 3-to-1 kill lead at just four minutes into the game, which it used to snowball out of control. Picking up several kills in the mid game, EDG held a 5,200-gold lead at 15 minutes, which grew even more after a 3-for-0 fight and Baron at the 24-minute mark. With top laner Tong "Koro1" Yang's Kennen splitpushing up a storm and the rest of EDG teamfighting well, thanks to Scout's Syndra who posted a 6/1/3 KDA, EDG took a final 4-for-0 fight in OMG's base to dominate Game 3 to the tune of a 28-minute win.
A chaotic early game saw both teams tied with six kills apiece in Game 4, but EDG eventually broke the stalemate with a 4-for-2 fight at 19 minutes. In what was the story of the series for OMG, the team simply looked nervous against EDG, constantly trying to force fights or objectives and playing a reckless style of League of Legends that EDG seemed to handle well. EDG did secure a 27-minute Baron, but OMG took the 3-for-2 fight immediately afterwards, which was apparently all it needed to come alive in the late game. AD carry Han "Smlz" Jin's Caitlyn was huge for OMG down the stretch, picking up a triple kill in a 5-for-2 ace and Baron secure at 35 minutes, which OMG used to push into EDG's base. Smlz led OMG to an extended 5-for-1 ace, dealing big damage en route to his game-high 31,300 damage dealt, and mid laner Xie "Icon" Tian-Yu's Taliyah used his Weaver's Wall to set up picks for OMG throughout the game, finishing the 37-minute Game 4 win with a 9/1/12 KDA.
In a crucial Game 5, EDward Gaming dominated the early game, securing a 2,500-gold lead through two kills and an early first tower by the 10-minute mark. Maintaining a firm grip over the map in the mid game, EDG methodically won teamfights in the mid lane before forcing its way into OMG's base, cracking OMG's defenses open with a 4-for-1 fight at 24 minutes to take down the mid lane inhibitor. A 27-minute Baron led to a 4-for-1 teamfight in OMG's base, featuring a triple kill from AD carry Hae "Zet" Sung-min's Varus, and just like that, EDG secured third place with a commanding Game 5 win in just over 30 minutes.
EDward Gaming finishes the Spring Split in third place, while OMG finishes in fourth. Both teams now await the Summer Split to return to action.