TL;DR
- Xerxe’s early double-lane gank strategy established Splyce’s map control within the first 10 minutes
- DFM’s innovative Nocturne mid pick failed against disciplined crowd control compositions
- Ekko’s second consecutive tournament failure revealed emerging counter strategies in professional play
- Splyce demonstrated superior objective control through methodical Baron setup and execution
- Gold differential and sustain advantages proved decisive despite DFM’s occasional successful engages

Splyce delivered a commanding performance against DetonatioN FocusMe in their inaugural match at the 2019 League of Legends World Championship, setting a strong tone for their tournament campaign.
The European representatives commenced their Worlds 2019 journey with decisive momentum, overwhelming the Japanese squad in a match that concluded well under the 30-minute mark, showcasing efficient gameplay execution.
DFM attempted strategic innovation by deploying Nocturne in the mid lane position, while Splyce opted for a fundamentally sound, conventional team composition focused on reliability and proven synergy.
Xerxe’s Early Game Mastery
Andrei “Xerxe” Dragomir initiated the match with precision timing, executing a perfectly coordinated gank in the bottom lane before replicating the identical play pattern in the top lane within minutes. These calculated aggressive moves systematically created advantageous conditions for his laners, positioning Splyce to seize complete command of the match trajectory.
Professional analysis indicates that successful early jungle pressure often determines match outcomes in international tournaments, where teams capitalize on small advantages to snowball control.
Common mistake: Many junglers attempt ganks without proper lane state assessment, but Xerxe demonstrated ideal timing when enemy laners were overextended and vulnerable.
Marek “Humanoid” Brázda encountered difficulties in his isolated lane duel against Kyohei “Ceros” Yoshida, highlighting the challenges European mids sometimes face against specialized lane opponents. Splyce intelligently compensated for this mid lane deficit by intensifying pressure on side lanes, creating a chaotic and combat-heavy early game phase.
Advanced players should note that compensating for losing lanes through cross-map pressure requires precise coordination and map awareness timing.
The early game transformed into an intensely violent exchange period with multiple skirmishes breaking out simultaneously across different map regions.
DFM recognized their strategic position deteriorating rapidly, prompting desperate attempts to reclaim momentum through forced teamfight engagements. This high-risk approach catastrophically backfired, accelerating Splyce’s map dominance rather than reversing it.
Despite operating from a disadvantaged position, DetonatioN still demonstrated creative potential with unexpected tactical maneuvers. During a jungle confrontation, DFM pursued Splyce members aggressively while Shunsuke “Evi” Murase expertly utilized Gnar’s ultimate ability to pin multiple opponents against terrain structures, yet Splyce counter-attacked effectively to secure the decisive engagement victory.
Optimization tip: When behind, teams should focus on vision control and pick opportunities rather than committing to full teamfights against gold advantages.
DetonatioN maintained threatening potential throughout the match, but the accumulating gold disparity fundamentally distinguished the teams’ capabilities. Splyce’s sustainability and damage output substantially exceeded their opponents’, reaching a threshold where DFM couldn’t strategically maneuver into favorable situations.
Splyce demonstrated remarkable patience by refusing to hastily conclude the match despite possessing overwhelming map control superiority.
The team exhibited methodical discipline while establishing Baron Nashor control perimeter. DetonatioN jungler Mun “Steal” Geon-yeong positioned himself dangerously close as Ekko, resulting in his capture by Splyce. This marked the second Ekko selection during play-in stages, and the second instance where the champion failed to generate meaningful game impact.
Professional teams appear to have decoded the counter-strategy, systematically drafting compositions featuring potent crowd control abilities to neutralize the champion’s mobility advantages.
Practical tip: Against mobile assassins like Ekko, prioritize champions with point-and-click CC abilities to guarantee lockdown during critical moments.
Empowered by the Baron Nashor buff enhancement, Splyce advanced systematically into the enemy stronghold where they secured three eliminations. The surviving DFM members continued resistance efforts but proved incapable of matching Splyce’s combat efficiency. Splyce achieved a complete team wipe against DFM and secured their inaugural victory at the World Championship.
Time estimate: Professional teams typically require 2-3 minutes to convert Baron buff advantages into game conclusions when executing properly.
This convincing opening performance establishes Splyce as a formidable contender in Group Stage calculations, particularly when considering their disciplined approach to objective control and teamfight execution.
Action Checklist
- Analyze lane matchups during draft phase to identify potential pressure points
- Coordinate early jungle ganks with proper lane state assessment
- Implement cross-map pressure strategies when facing losing lane situations
- Practice disciplined objective control with proper vision setup before major calls
- Study champion counter strategies, particularly against mobile assassins like Ekko
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Splyce starts LoL Worlds 2019 with convincing victory over DFM Splyce's strategic victory over DFM at Worlds 2019 reveals key early game tactics and champion counter strategies
