Kingzone and SKT both dominated the League of Legends landscape, albeit at very different times. Now, both teams are about to clash on March 3 in an epic series that has all the chances to become the sixth LCK match of the week. Kingzone DragonX are rallying around their bot lane. Their AD carry is a powerhouse in every sense of the word, and they’re doing a great job of empowering him in lane and outside of it. Combine that with their tricky drafts and solid teamwork, and Kingzone are much more powerful than they seem at first glance.
SK Telecom T1 are no pushovers either. Their bot lane brings a ton of firepower to the table, and they know full well how to use it. On top of that, they have two explosive carries in the side lanes, which gives them more win conditions to play around. SKT’s firepower is a double-edged sword, though, as they have to accomplish the impossible task of distributing gold between five resource-hungry players.
Kingzone vs SKT – LCK Match Breakdown
Top Lane Matchup
The Kingzone vs SKT top lane matchup is almost poetic. With a 3.5 KDA and 8.1 CS per minute, Rascal was once Khan’s substitute on the 2018 Kingzone DragonX lineup. Now that he has the starting spot, it’s a great chance for him to prove he can stand up to the top laner that once overshadowed him. But the LCK isn’t a movie, and Rascal still has a way to go before he can play carries on the same level as Khan.
The funny thing is that he doesn’t have to. Sporting a 3.1 KDA and 8.8 CS per minute, Khan has been relegated to tank duty on the SK Telecom T1 roster. Granted, he still employs a very aggressive playstyle and puts a lot of pressure on his opponents, but the gap between these top laners isn’t nearly as big as it seems.
VERDICT: SKT Khan secures a small edge in the top lane.
Jungle Matchup
Things take a different turn in the jungle. With a 2.7 KDA and 5.4 CS per minute, KZ Cuzz is a solid team player that has a number of dangerous flex picks in his arsenal. However, he doesn’t have the skill or the killer instinct to dominate the game on his own, so he tends to fall short during invades and 1v1 river skirmishes.
The same can’t be said about Clid. Holding a 4.5 KDA and 5.1 CS per minute, Clid is far and away the most explosive player on the SKT lineup. His mechanics are as sharp as a razor, and he’s always looking to make a play that tips the scales in SK Telecom T1’s favor.
VERDICT: SKT Clid claims the jungle as his own.
Mid Lane Matchup
Things are going to get heated in the mid lane. Despite Naehyun (3.4 KDA and 7.6 CS per minute) getting some play time in the past, Kingzone seem to have settled on PawN being their primary mid laner. His 3.4 KDA and 8.3 CS per minute might not blow you away, but he makes up for it with a wide champion pool and years of veteran experience.
Unfortunately, his opponent is more than capable of matching him in these departments. Holding a 3.8 KDA and 9.1 CS per minute, Faker is the original king of mid lane, and while his reign isn’t as strong as it used to be, he has the brains and the brawn to outmaneuver most Korean mid laners. Sorry, PawN, but as far as the Kingzone vs SKT battle goes, you’re outmatched.
VERDICT: SKT Faker takes over the mid lane.
Bot Lane Matchup
The bot lane matchup will decide the course of the entire series. With a 4.4 KDA and 10.0 CS per minute, Deft is the driving force behind Kingzone’s newfound momentum and their only reliable win condition in teamfights. He’s supported by TusiN (4.0 KDA), a monumental playmaker, who knows full well how to set up his superstar AD carry for success.
Kingzone’s duo would have a huge lead in every other matchup, but this one might be the exception. Sporting a 5.7 KDA and 10.7 CS per minute, Teddy has made a name for himself with his refined mechanics and spotless positioning. And while Mata (3.4 KDA) isn’t as dominant as he used to be, he has plenty of firepower to stand up to TusiN’s aggression.
VERDICT: KZ Deft and TusiN secure a small edge in the bot lane.
Kingzone vs SKT – LCK Match Prediction
SKT are in a perfect spot to negate Kingzone’s only strength without exposing any weaknesses of their own. Teddy and Mata may not win the bot lane matchup, but they will be able to hold their own. Meanwhile, their solo laners will use their advantages to outmuscle Kingzonen and score a 2-0 victory in SKT’s favor!
You can bet on SK Telecom T1 winning the Kingzone vs SKT match with a 2-0 score for odds of 1.95 at Betway.
