LCO Split 1 2023: Chiefs sweep Wolfpack to book second PCS playoff seed

LCO Split 1 2023: Chiefs sweep Wolfpack to book second PCS playoff seed

Time Stamp: March 16, 2023 5:24 AM
Source Node: 2015489

It’s a Queensland double to wrap LCO Split 1’s main playoff stage, with Team Bliss and The Chiefs locking in their PCS playoff qualification on their road to MSI.

The reigning LCO champs in The Chiefs were not going to be stopped after their defeat to Bliss on Wednesday, bouncing back with malice to eliminate Dire Wolves 3-0 at the final hurdle.

While DW looked in it in the opening two matches, the third ended a blowout, with Chiefs finishing the game 24-3 ahead in kills.

The best-of-five was a rematch from the opening round of the playoffs, with The Chiefs making it look just as easy then.

“Second seed into PCS playoffs, we still have a lot to work on but we’ll try our best not to get speedrun astro turbo stimped by JunJia,” said Ryan “Aladoric” Richardson following the game.

“We’re also looking forward to the 23rd rematch against Bliss for the LCO grand final!”

In all, it wasn’t the cleanest splits for the Worlds 2022 representatives — but nevertheless, they’ll fly the flag at the PCS playoffs as both our LCO reps battle for London’s Mid-Season Invitational.

But to many, the surprise story of Split 1 is undoubtedly Team Bliss.

In their debut split, and facing true giants of Oceania — while many were hopeful, expectations for Team Bliss entering Split 1 weren’t sky high.

But they’ve taken up the challenge and passed with flying colours.

Bliss have taken the top LCO seed at the PCS playoffs following their 3-2 victory over The Chiefs in Wednesday evening’s best-of-five qualifier.

Team Bliss take top seed to the PCS playoffs later next week.
Photo: Team Bliss

Next to nothing could split the two Queensland-based sides, who have traded blows across the season.

But following Bliss’ win in Stage 2 to lock in top playoffs seed, the squad kept their momentum going, downing the 2022 Worlds representatives in a lengthy five-match series.

“The support for me as a player and streamer over the years means more than I could ever put into words,” said Team Bliss’ Raaz “Whynot” Alfassi Berman following the match.

“I’ve been gatekept by so many ‘top’ players throughout the years that this win is vindicating beyond belief.”

It’s a remarkable effort from Team Bliss in their first season in the LCO, but the job is far from done for both of the LCO representatives.

Team Bliss and The Chiefs must now take on the best of the PCS in order to qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational in London.

The PCS playoffs begin March 23 — but before MSI, the LCO will return at DreamHack Melbourne.

Amongst the action, the LCO announced today that North American squad TSM Challengers — featuring the likes of Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen and former Chiefs support Dragon “Dragku” Guo — will make an appearance at the festival for a showmatch.

Tickets for the one-day LCO showcase at DreamHack Melbourne are on sale here.

LCO Split 1 2023 Schedule & Results

Split 1 of LCO 2023 featured a brand new five week format. Stage One saw each team play a best-of-three against one another via round robin.

Based upon Stage One results, Stage two saw each team seeded into two groups, playing out a best-of-three double-elimination bracket. For the two emerging squads in each group, they moved to Stage Three — the other two, eliminated.

Stage Three will see one final double-elimination bracket, with the top two booking their tickets to the PCS playoffs, and potentially beyond to London’s Mid-Season Invitational.

LCO Split 1 2023 Standings, Schedule & Results

LCO Split 1 2023 Results — Playoffs Stage 3

DateMatchTime (AEDT)
Monday, Mar 13Playoffs Semi-Final 1Dire Wolves 0-2 Chiefs5pm
Playoffs Semi-Final 2Pentanet 0-2 Bliss8pm
Tuesday, Mar 14Lower Bracket Semi-FinalDire Wolves 2-0 Pentanet6pm
Wednesday, Mar 15Upper Bracket – PCS QualifierChiefs 2-3 Bliss6pm
Thursday, Mar 16Lower Bracket – PCS QualifierDire Wolves 0-3 Chiefs6pm

LCO Split 1 2023 Results — Stage 2 Week 1

DateMatchTime (AEDT)
Monday, Feb 27Group A OpeningDire Wolves W-FF Peace5pm
Group B OpeningBliss 2-0 Kanga6pm
Tuesday, Feb 28Group A OpeningPentanet 2-0 Mammoth5pm
Group B OpeningChiefs 2-1 Ground Zero8pm
Wednesday, Mar 1Group A EliminationMammoth W-FF Peace5pm
Group B EliminationKanga 2-1 Ground Zero6pm

LCO Split 1 2023 Results — Stage 2 Week 2

DateMatchTime (AEDT)
Monday, Mar 6Group A Upper QualifierDire Wolves 0-2 Pentanet5pm
Group B Upper QualifierTeam Bliss 0-2 Chiefs8pm
Tuesday, Mar 7Group A Lower QualifierDire Wolves 2-0 Mammoth5pm
Group B Lower QualifierTeam Bliss 2-0 Kanga8pm
Wednesday, Mar 8Group A S3 SeedingPentanet 1-2 Dire Wolves5pm
Group B S3 SeedingChiefs 0-2 Team Bliss6pm

LCO Split 1 2023 — Stage 1 Ladder

RankingTeamRecord
1Dire Wolves6-1
2Bliss5-2
3Pentanet.GG5-2
4The Chiefs4-3
5Ground Zero Gaming3-4
6Mammoth2-5
7Kanga Esports2-5
8Peace1-6

LCO Split 1 2023 Results — Stage 1 Week 1

DateMatchTime (AEDT)
Monday, Jan 23Bliss 0-1 Chiefs6pm
Pentanet 1-0 Ground Zero7pm
Dire Wolves 1-0 Mammoth8pm
Peace FF-W KangaN/A
Tuesday, Jan 24Pentanet 1-0 Kanga6pm
Ground Zero 0-1 Chiefs7pm
Bliss 0-1 Dire Wolves8pm
Peace FF-W MammothN/A

LCO Split 1 2023 Results — Stage 1 Week 2

DateMatchTime (AEDT)
Monday, Jan 30Chiefs 0-1 Dire Wolves6pm
Kanga 0-1 Bliss7pm
Mammoth 0-1 Pentanet8pm
Ground Zero W-FF PeaceN/A
Tuesday, Jan 31Ground Zero 0-1 Dire Wolves6pm
Kanga 0-1 Mammoth7pm
Chiefs 1-0 Pentanet8pm
Peace FF-W BlissN/A
Wednesday, Feb 1Mammoth 0-1 Chiefs6pm
Bliss 1-0 Ground Zero7pm
Dire Wolves 1-0 Kanga8pm
Pentanet W-FF PeaceN/A

LCO Split 1 2023 Results — Stage 1 Week 3

DateMatchTime (AEDT)
Monday, Feb 6Mammoth 0-1 Bliss6pm
Dire Wolves 0-1 Pentanet7pm
Chiefs 0-1 Peace8pm
Kanga 0-1 Ground Zero9pm
Tuesday, Feb 7Dire Wolves 1-0 Peace6pm
Pentanet 0-1 Bliss7pm
Mammoth 0-1 Ground Zero8pm
Chiefs 0-1 Kanga9pm

LCO Split 1 2023 Rosters

Reigning LCO champions Chiefs will be out to defend their crown, but have undergone significant changes since their Mexico outing late last year.

Both Raes & Aladoric return as the team’s bot lane duo, with coach Babip steps back into the starting line-up as the team’s jungler. Former Order frontman BioPanther makes a return to the LCO with Chiefs after Order’s dissolution in 2022.

It’s a new Chiefs squad for ’23, but the league champs retain their favourites tag heading into Split 1.

Bliss and Ground Zero make their grand entrance to the LCO with a combination of youth and experience. Meanwhile, Mammoth have built around the 2022 Gravitas core, with Ch1Chi debuting in the LCO as the team’s top laner.

TeamSquad
The ChiefsBioPantherBabipKiseeRaesAladoric
Pentanet.GGChippysShernfireDONGGYVioletApii
Dire WolvesZorenousPoltronChazzPraedythDecoy
Kanga EsportsBlueFightoHoopaShinkiPapryze
PeaceWeizhesHAKaNuL1ChayonChillness
MammothCh1ChiAkanoDaJeungVoiceEntrust
Team BlissLivedWhynotDaystarLeemasBenvi
Ground Zero GamingTronGoobymfisDantehBulldawg

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