Griffin and SKT T1 have been on a collision course ever since the beginning of the 2019 Spring Split, and their battle is finally set to take place on January 31! This is arguably the most anticipated Bo3 of the season, as everyone wants to find out who’s going to come out on top in a clash between the old and the new. Join us as we analyze the matchup in a detailed LCK match of the week breakdown!
Griffin are the clear-cut best team in the league. Their roster is stacked with talent, and three of their five players already look strong enough to be considered world-class. On top of that, they’re the only team that stayed together since the beginning of 2018, so they’re miles ahead of everyone else in terms of macro and synergy.
But if there is one LCK team that can challenge them, it’s SKT T1. Every single player on their roster is a battle-hardened veteran with a long-standing history of competitive success. And while their coordination isn’t on Griffin’s level, the sheer amount of experience on this lineup means SKT always know what they need to do to clinch the win.
Griffin vs SKT – LCK Match Breakdown
Top Lane Matchup
The best way to describe SKT Khan would be “underwhelming”. With a 3.3 KDA and 9.3 CS per minute, he’s a decent top laner that does his job on a wide range of carry picks, but he’s nowhere near the monster he was meant to be. To make matter worse, his laning phase is riddled with holes, as he frequently oversteps his limits and gives away free kills to the enemy jungler.
Fortunately for him, GRF Sword isn’t the main star of the show either. Sporting a 7.9 KDA and 8.6 CS per minute, he’s a well-rounded top laner that shines the most when he works together with his teammates. Laning isn’t his forte, so there’s a good chance he will be taken aback by Khan’s brash aggression in this Griffin vs SKT matchup.
VERDICT: SKT Khan finds a small edge in the top lane.
Jungle Matchup
There’s no denying that SKT Clid is a beast. Holding a 4.2 KDA and 5.1 CS per minute, he’s a gank-heavy jungler that seeks to overwhelm enemy laners from the first minutes of the game. His pathing could use some work, as he frequently chases kills instead of securing jungle camps and neutral objectives, but other than that, he’s a textbook example of a top-tier jungler.
Still, even Clid might have a hard time against Tarzan. Griffin’s jungler towers above the competition with a massive 14.0 KDA and 6.0 CS per minute. He has a natural knack for pathing, so he should have an easy time tracking Clid’s movements, but it’s really his mechanical prowess that elevates Tarzan to the next level and makes him the #1 jungler in the LCK.
VERDICT: GRF Tarzan outmuscles Clid in the jungle.
Mid Lane Matchup
When you talk about Faker, you almost have to mention his legacy. Sporting a 4.1 KDA and 9.2 CS per minute, SKT’s mid laner is a living legend that held the title of the best player in the world for several years in a row. However, these days might be in the past. Don’t take us wrong, Faker is still formidable, but he’s no longer the force of nature that seamlessly comes up with solo kills and game-winning advantages.
Meanwhile, Chovy has already started challenging Faker’s dominance. With a monstrous 84.0 KDA and 10.4 CS per minute, he’s a mechanical prodigy that routinely pulls off one spectacular outplay after another. He also has a great mind for the game, and it’s common to see him outmaneuvering LCK veterans in lane and outside of it. And even a player of Faker’s caliber will struggle to match him in this Griffin vs SKT battle.
VERDICT: GRF Chovy conquers the mid lane.
Bot Lane Matchup
The bot lane matchup might very well decide the course of the Griffin vs SKT series. Holding a 6.0 KDA and 10.4 CS per minute, Teddy is SKT’s ace, and you can always count on him to top the damage charts in teamfights and skirmishes. It also helps that his support Mata (4.7 KDA) shored up the holes in his playmaking, so SKT enjoy the benefit of having a reliable initiator at their side.
Griffin’s bot lane is renowned for its creativity. With a 15.4 KDA and 10.7 CS per minute, Viper is a powerhouse that dominates the game on mages and marksmen alike. His support Lehends (11.9 KDA) can be a bit hit-or-miss, though, as you can never tell whether he’s going to take over the game or fall flat on his face with his wide range of pocket picks.
VERDICT: SKT’s Teddy and Mata secure a lead in the bot lane.
Griffin vs SKT – LCK Match Prediction
Both teams can match each other in terms of raw firepower. However, Griffin are much better at navigating the map and working together as a single unit, while SKT are still going through growing pains and figuring out their playstyle. Our prediction is a 2-1 victory in favor of Griffin!
You can bet on Griffin winning the series with a 2-1 score for odds of 2.80 at Betway.
