The second match of the ESL Premier League was only a week later. After their grueling series against CLG, the team dove deep into practice. Now, they needed a win to regain their momentum and their confidence.
Their opponents, jpak and friends, were known for their quirky drafts and unconventional strategies. But one name stood out: Jatt. A solid jungler with a reputation for innovative pathing and impactful plays, Jatt’s unique picks like Udyr and Singed could flip games if not handled carefully.
The team call buzzed to life as Titan began the pre-match breakdown.
“Alright, this isn’t CLG,” Titan started, his tone measured. “But that doesn’t mean we can take them lightly. Jatt’s Udyr and Singed are game-changers if we let them snowball. We can’t give him room to take over.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Hai asked.
Titan clicked through his notes. “We ban Singed. It’s too unpredictable, and we haven’t prepped for it. We’ll let Udyr through if it comes to that—we’ve practiced against it enough.”
“What about the rest of their team?” BladeSong chimed in. “Any standout threats?”
“Not really,” Titan replied. “Their mid-laner, jpak, is decent but not dominant. Their bot lane is solid but plays safe. If we pressure their weak points and avoid Jatt dictating the pace, we’ll come out on top.”
“Got it,” Balls said. “We’re not getting Singed diffed today.”
Game 1
The draft opened predictably. GTB banned Singed, Tristana, and Taric, while jpak and friends targeted BladeSong’s hyper carries with bans on Sivir and Zilean and Hai's Nunu. Jatt immediately locked in Udyr, signaling an aggressive early-game strategy.
GTB responded with a scaling composition. Titan took Kassadin mid, Hai grabbed Xin Zhao, and Nior picked Leona for engage. BladeSong secured Tristana, and Balls went for Malphite top.
jpak and friends rounded out their draft with a poke-heavy bot lane of Ezreal and Janna, Cho’Gath mid, and a Renekton top for more frontline presence.
From the start, Jatt’s Udyr was everywhere. He invaded Hai’s jungle relentlessly, stealing camps and creating havoc. Hai tried to match the pressure, but Jatt’s mobility and efficient pathing put GTB on the back foot.
At 12 minutes, Jatt executed a flawless gank bot lane, flashing onto BladeSong and forcing his Rocket Jump. Nior’s Leona tried to peel with Solar Flare, but Jatt’s bear stance stun and follow-up from Ezreal secured a double kill for the enemy bot lane.
“They’re controlling the map,” Hai said, frustration evident in his voice. “I can’t keep up with Jatt’s tempo.”
“Play to scale,” Titan replied calmly. “They’re aggressive, but if we survive the early game, Kassadin and Tristana will take over.”
But surviving was easier said than done. At 22 minutes, Jatt forced a fight at dragon, using Udyr’s speed and bulk to dive deep into GTB’s backline. The engage split GTB’s formation, and Renekton followed up with a clean Slice-and-Dice, cutting down BladeSong. Without their main damage dealer, GTB couldn’t contest the objective.
By 30 minutes, jpak and friends had built an insurmountable lead. A decisive Baron call led to a clean siege, and GTB’s Nexus fell shortly after.
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Defeat.
Game 2
The second draft showed GTB’s ability to adapt. They banned Udyr too this time, forcing Jatt onto Jarvan IV, a pick that, while strong, wasn't a comfort pick for Jatt. Titan locked in Zilean mid, Hai returned to Xin Zhao, and Nior stayed on Leona. BladeSong opted for Sivir, while Balls took his signature Malphite as his top pick.
jpak and friends drafted an aggressive comp, with Renekton for top, Karthus for mid, and their bot lane running back their Ezreal and Janna.
From the outset, GTB played more cohesively. Hai focused on securing vision and controlling objectives, while Nior’s Leona roamed early, landing crucial stuns that gave GTB the edge in skirmishes.
The turning point came at 15 minutes during a fight for the second dragon. Balls’s Malphite landed a game-changing Unstoppable Force, knocking Ezreal and Karthus into Titan’s Time Bombs. The chain CC left jpak and friends reeling as BladeSong’s Sivir cleaned up with a triple kill.
“Let’s go!” BladeSong shouted, the excitement clear in his voice. “That’s how we do it.”
From there, GTB never let up. With Zilean’s Time Warp speeding up Hai and BladeSong, GTB dictated the tempo, diving towers and forcing favorable fights. At 28 minutes, a Baron-powered push ended the game decisively.
Victory.
Game 3
The final draft reflected the stakes. Both teams adjusted their bans, with GTB removing Singed, Udyr, and Karthus, while jpak and friends targeted Sivir, Zilean, and Leona.
Titan locked in Morgana mid for utility and pick potential, Hai returned to Xin Zhao, and Nior picked Janna for peel. BladeSong took Tristana, and Balls went with Malphite for reliable engage.
Jatt picked Jarvan IV again, but this time paired with LeBlanc mid for a long-range catch. Their bot lane, Ezreal and Karma, seemed to be a comfort pick for their players, while Renekton remained the top-lane pick.
The game started slowly, with both teams trading farm and avoiding unnecessary risks. But at 10 minutes, GTB struck first. Hai ganked top, helping Balls secure a kill on Renekton and allowing Malphite to accelerate his tankiness.
By mid-game, GTB had found their groove. Nior’s Janna consistently disrupted Jatt’s engages, and Titan’s Morgana landed key Dark Bindings that caught Caitlyn out of position multiple times. BladeSong scaled comfortably on Tristana, dealing massive damage in every fight.
The pivotal moment came at 25 minutes in a fight near Baron. Jatt and jpak attempted their Flag-Chains-Cataclysm combo, but Nior’s timely Monsoon disrupted the engage, scattering their formation. Balls followed up with an Unstoppable Force on Caitlyn, and BladeSong rocket jumped forward, securing another triple kill.
With Baron secured, GTB methodically pushed into jpak and friends’ base. A final fight in the Nexus turrets ended with BladeSong claiming a quadra kill, sealing the game.
Victory.
The post-game comms were a mixture of relief and pride.
“We needed that,” Hai said. “Jatt almost ran us over, but we adapted.”
“Good call banning Udyr,” Balls added. “That pick would’ve been a nightmare.”
Titan smiled. “One match at a time. We’ve got this.”
The team logged off one by one, their voices still buzzing with a mix of adrenaline and relief. Titan lingered, staring at the post-game stats on his screen. His KDA from the last three games caught his attention.
Game 1: 2/0/3
Game 2: 3/0/10
Game 3: 5/1/9
His performance had been steady throughout the series, and for the first time in weeks, the numbers reflected his efforts. Titan opened his Status screen, curiosity tugging at his focus.
A soft chime rang out, accompanied by a notification.
Quest Complete: Standout Performer
Reward: Silver Badge - Chronoshift King (Zilean)
Titan clicked the badge icon, revealing its details:
Chronoshift King
Grants +5 Situational Awareness when playing Zilean after reaching Level 6.
Titan leaned back, letting out a slow breath. The reward wasn’t flashy, but it was significant. Situational awareness was Zilean’s bread and butter, enabling critical time warps and chronoshifts during chaotic moments. A small boost like this could be the edge he needed to elevate his play even further.
With the badge gleaming faintly in his mind’s eye, Titan whispered to himself, “One step closer.” Then he powered down his PC, ready for the grind ahead.
