What an event it has been! For the last few days, the IEM World Championship has turned into a source of many positive emotions. Over the course of the event we saw many of the teams, considered favorites to fall 1 by 1 to the Korean Hegemonia, until eventually only Asian teams got to the Final!

CJ Entus Frost vs CJ Entus Blaze

Game 1

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Game started off really dynamic. First, the entire Frost line-up invaded their opponent's red buff, managing to secure first blood in the process. The action didn't end there, however - in the meantime Flame's Nidalee and Helios's Xin Zhao attempted a level 2 gank on Shy's Elise, which backfired terribly, leading to Nidalee's death. Frost were up 2:0 until just a few moments later, disaster stroke again, this time onto Blaze's bot lane leading to another 2 deaths.

After the rocky start, Blaze were forced on their back foot, trying to get as much farm as they can and close the huge gap in gold. The game slowed its pace down, but it was still Frost securing all the global objectives. For the time being, no big team fights occurred, apart from some skirmishes that ended up in kills.

By the 17 minute mark Frost was 9k gold ahead, 14-4 in kills and pressuring all lanes, which eventually led to the point where Blaze couldn't hold them any longer. All it took was an uncontested baron to force Blaze to surrender as soon as the clock hit 20.

Winner: CJ Frost

Game 2:

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Previous game seemed to be a wake up call for Blaze. This time their level 1 composure was far better, as they set their positions to a more defensive pattern. First blood was in their favor as well, after a perfectly executed gank by Helios' Vi, securing the kill on Shy. He managed do redeem himself just moments after, but got killed again.

First dragon was in favor of Blaze as well, as they saw a perfect opportunity to secure it uncontested, after spotting the enemy jungler on the other end of the map. Frost answered by taking top outer tower, but they were struggling to keep up in farm on all players.

This time around, at the 18 minute mark Blaze was the team making the right calls and securing the global objectives. Everything was going in their favor, until the moment the two teams clashed in the middle of the map in an epic 5v5. The following team fight had no clear winner, as both teams had 4 kills each, but again, the events were in favor of Blaze, as moments before this happened, they managed to secure their second dragon.

The 25th minute was the game deciding moment. First, after spotting Blaze out of position, Frost rushed towards the middle inner turret, but their sister team got there on time. In the following team fight Frost got demolished, as they lost all 5 members without scoring a kill. Blaze went straight for baron to increase their advantage in gold up to 12k. From that point on it was only a matter of time until they secured the victory pushing slowly and methodically until the next baron buff. Frost managed to steal it away, but being 3 inhibitors down and so far away to defend their base costed them the game. With a little backdoor action from Flame's Singed at the very end, Blaze tied up the series 1:1.

Winner: CJ Blaze

Game 3

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With both teams scoring a win so far, the games were getting more and more tense. There wasn't any more crazy level 1 action, as the lineups decided to play it safe and not give their opponent a chance to snowball.

This time around, Frost were the ones with the early aggression. First blood was in their favor - Shy on his trademark Singed. But it was far from over - at the other end of the map, a 2 for 1 exchange led to the first tower of the game, just 4 minutes in. It wasn't long till bot and mid turrets were also destroyed, with a free Dragon in between for Frost.

Although Blaze were 3 towers down in just a few minutes, they still managed to keep their composure and maintain the gold difference to just 2k. All lanes were winning in farm, which eventually led to more equal and tense team fights. As soon as the second dragon spawned, both teams were on the spot. Although Frost managed to secure the Dragon, a well organized Blaze managed to get 3 kills from the following team fight and maintain the gold difference in their favor.

The game was getting more and more tense, but Blaze's team comp was getting stronger. By the time they secured the third Dragon of the game, they were already 5k hold ahead, despite the result being 11:11 in kills. Seeing they had the upper hand, Blaze's next big target was Baron. Frost was there to contest and even though they couldn't, no one died in the following team fight. Kills weren't the main goal for the fully buffed Blaze - they went straight for the inner towers, killing all 3, securing a Dragon in the process, regrouping and pushing again. It was all downhill for Frost, as the next team fight meant game for them - after losing 4 members again, they weren't able to defend their base.

Winner: CJ Blaze

Game 4:

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Game point for Blaze, Tie for Frost and a chance for a 5th game - that were the two options in front of our finalists. Winning this game would mean Blaze is champion, so the pressure was building rapidly, and with their sister team securing first blood once again, they knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park.

This time around, Blaze decided to switch it up, taking a very early dragon - just 10 minutes into the game, scoring 2 kills in the following skirmish near mid and also taking the turret. The pace of the game slowed down and for the next 5-6 minutes neither team wanted to make a move.

As soon as the second dragon spawned, Blaze were there once again, but this time around - so were Frost. After a 5:2 exchange PLUS a Dragon, for the time being they were back in the game. Lack of concentration and communication perhaps cost them dearly, as they failed 2 consecutive tower dives on both mid and top. Blaze seized the moment of confusion and after 2 really great turnarounds (3 for 1 and 3:0) they went straight for Baron, securing it uncontested.

All lanes were pushing for Blaze, they had the buff, the map control, so naturally the siege began. Frost were still in shock, when they got caught off guard, losing 4 members in the process. It wasn't long until Blaze was beating down their Nexus. Blaze managed to close the game before Frost could react, winning the series 3 to 1 and the IEM World Championship. Congratulations and well played !

Winner and New IEM World Champion - CJ Entus Blaze