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On the first day back after a week off for Rift Rivals, Immortals took a 2-0 series sweep Friday over a substitute-laden Echo Fox team to conclude Week 6, Day 1 of the North American League of Legend Championship Series Summer Split in Los Angeles.
The best thing that could be said about Echo Fox's Game 1 performance was that it kept the kill count close for the majority of the contest. But that was about the only good news, as Immortals (8-3, 17-10 match record) simply outmaneuvered its inexperienced opposition, taking advantage of Echo Fox's sub mid laner, Tanner "Damonte" Damonte, to give its own mid laner, Eugene "Pobelter" Park, a lead on Leblanc.
Pobelter did not let up the pressure and used the mobility of his champion to strain Echo Fox's side lanes, securing each of his team's first four kills by the 15-minute mark. As the game progressed, Pobelter continued to split push relentlessly, then use the slippery properties of his champion to escape a counterattack. His play eventually led to a Baron kill for Immortals, and the team quickly polished off the game soon after.
In Game 2, Immortals were forced to deal with two new faces from Echo Fox (4-7, 11-15 match record). Jonathan "Grig" Armao substituted in for Matthew "Akaadian" Higginbotham at the jungler position while Yuri "Keith" Jew returned to his starting AD carry position, replacing Brandon "Mash" Phan. Echo Fox picked up the first two kills, as well as first tower gold on the back of a bottom lane dive by Grig on Rek'Sai.
Despite the early deficit, Immortals' superior macro play again allowed the team to control the game. A misguided attack by Echo Fox near the Infernal Drake allowed Immortals to win its first major teamfight of the contest, take the crucial objective and earn its first meaningful gold lead. Even a hot start by Damonte, who bounced back with a 5/0/3 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) wasn't enough for Eco Fox to stop the snowball. On the back of two Barons, Immortals finally managed to crack through Echo Fox's base and pick up the 35-minute Game 2 victory.
Echo Fox's next chance to salvage the split comes Sunday at 6 p.m. ET versus Team EnVyUs. Immortals will face a much more threatening test on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET when it faces Cloud9.