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Group A leaders Royal Never Give Up survived a frightening series against Group B bottom-dwellers Vici Gaming on Sunday, taking a 2-1 series win to close out Week 7, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai.
Things couldn't have gone better for Royal Never Give Up (9-2, 19-8 match record) to start Game 1, picking up kills in every lane before 15 minutes. While Vici Gaming found scattered picks throughout the mid game, a big 3-for-1 fight at 32 minutes gave RNG a Baron buff, which it capitalized on with aplomb. Bolstering top laner Yan "Letme" Jun-Ze's split-pushing on an already fed Camille, Letme picked up a solo kill in VG's base as part of a 5-for-1 ace for RNG, adding to his game-high 28,900 damage dealt to enemy champions and 6/1/9 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) as RNG methodically took Game 1.
Despite picking up first blood in Game 2, Royal Never Give Up fell apart in the mid game, allowing Vici Gaming (3-8, 9-18 match record) to pull ahead. Mid laner Lee "Easyhoon" Ji-hoon's Vladimir was massive throughout the game, picking up early kills en route to a 5/1/5 KDA for 100 percent kill participation, but the true hero for VG was top laner Zhu "Loong" Xiao-Long's Kled. Engaging on RNG's immobile carries with his Chaaaaaaaarge!!!, Loong set up Vici's sudden win with a 3-for-0 fight in the top river after a Vici Baron kill. Sweeping through the top lane with a massive minion wave, Vici Gaming turned the teamfight win into a game win, as it ended Game 2 decisively in just over 32 minutes.
Easyhoon's Vladimir picked up first blood and first tower gold in Game 3, but Vici Gaming's hopes were quickly dashed. While RNG mid laner Li "Xiaohu" Yuan-Hao's Syndra suffered from positioning woes, his damage output and kill potential carried RNG in the mid game. With a 4/1/2 KDA at 29 minutes, Vici Gaming was terrified of Xiaohu in the mid-late game, allowing RNG to pick up a 31-minute Baron. Not one for getting overshadowed, AD carry Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao's Ezreal gave RNG room to secure the Baron by jumping into Vici Gaming in a 1-vs-3, picking up all three kills with some help from his team as RNG pushed to end the game. Xiaohu picked up another kill to complete his 8/1/4 KDA as Royal Never Give Up secured a 5-for-2 ace and 34-minute win.
Royal Never Give Up will kick off next week's LPL action when it faces LGD Gaming on Thursday at 5 a.m. ET, while Vici Gaming have to wait until next Sunday to next take to the Rift against Game Talents at 4 a.m. ET.