The third week of the LEC has ended, setting the stage for an intense battle for Playoff qualification. With only six spots available, SK Gaming can celebrate a solid 2-0 victory against GIANTX today. Karmine Corp had a scare against Team Heretics, even though they eventually came out on top 2-1. It's a result that should prompt some self-reflection and prevent them from resting on their Winter Split success.

The King almost fell

GIANTX continues to sink toward the bottom of the standings. With just one win and three losses, their chances of snatching the sixth Playoff spot are slipping away, especially considering their upcoming schedule. Their next three matches are against G2 Esports, Karmine Corp, and Movistar KOI, all of whom are clear favorites in the upper bracket. It’s time to sound the first alarm for a roster with much higher ambitions during the last offseason, but now, it seems to be struggling after losing their jungle leader just before the Spring Split began. This situation, however, has worked out well for SK Gaming, who secured their second win of the split and are now comfortably in the middle of the table, tied with Movistar KOI.

Once again, Karmine Corp had a tough time in the early game. They got stomped in game 1, barely scraped through a bloody game 2, and managed to clutch game 3 thanks to a messy fight around the Atakhan, turning the tide against Kamil "Kamiloo" Haudegond's terrifying Sylas. Their early-game issues were especially evident in the KDA: by 15 minutes, Kamiloo had already racked up 5 kills and 3 deaths against Vladimiros "Vladi" Kourtidis's Tristana. These small early mistakes continue to make life difficult for the Blue Wall, who now look like one of the league’s weakest early-game teams.

That said, credit must go to Team Heretics, who showed real fighting spirit today. With stronger drafts and effective snowballing during the laning phase, they capitalized well on their early advantages. This loss puts them temporarily in 6th place alongside Team BDS, both holding a 2-3 record. Still, they've sent a strong message to their future opponents: while they still suffer from major individual positioning mistakes, this roster can be dangerous when well-prepared for high-stakes matches.

Next week, they’ll face Team Vitality, who has been warned. Underestimating Heretics could prove costly, especially in a match that could be crucial for Playoff qualification. As for KC, they're now 4-1 and temporarily leading the league, with a few more games played than G2 and Fnatic, who are right behind them.