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ESPN Esports- Staff writer for ESPN.com
- Covered esports since 2011
- Worked with biggest teams across titles like League of Legends and StarCraft II
Welcome to the League of Legends World Championship positional power rankings. Today, looking at the top laners. Be sure to check back each day this week for our jungle, mid lane, AD carry and support power rankings as well.
Without further ado, let's jump right in.
The voting
Each panelist cast a vote for their top five players. First place was worth five points, second was worth four, third was worth three, fourth gave two points, and fifth gave one point.
1. Lee 'CuVee' Seong-jin
19 points - 2nd (Erzberger), 1st (Rand), 1st (Torres), 1st (Moser)
Most LCK fans likely expected to see Song "Smeb" Kyung-ho in this exact spot, and while Smeb is still one of South Korea's best, CuVee has quietly had a banner split. Through Crown's struggles and jungle swaps between Kang "Ambition" Chan-yong and Kang "Haru" Min-seung, CuVee has been the steadfast presence in the top lane that Samsung needed, while also showing a newfound carry prowess that could lead his team to victory. CuVee may not be the flashiest top laner, but he's strong, efficient and just what his team needs.
2. Kim 'Khan' Dong-ha
17 points - 1st (Erzberger), 2nd (Rand), 2nd (Torres), 2nd (Moser)
Six months ago, Kim "Khan" Dong-ha was in Chinese purgatory, sitting between the main league as a substitute and a starter in the region's secondary league. Although his performance in solo queue turned heads, his play in pro play left a lot to be desired, and no team would commit to him. After signing with Longzhu Gaming for the 2017 summer split, this once journeyman with little future has become the most talked-about player heading into this year's World Championship. The undisputed ace of the team that toppled the emperor SKT T1 in the most recent South Korean domestic final, the laning-focused top laner is ready to go from LCK finals MVP to World finals MVP. Although unflappable when it comes to one-on-one matchups on top lane isle, his inconsistency with tanks and inability to be flexible could be exploited.
3. Lee 'Flame' Ho-jong
11 points - 3rd (Erzberger), 4th (Rand), 3rd (Torres), 3rd (Moser)
Flame joined Immortals to prove he still had inside him what made him the world's greatest top laner back in 2013 and 2014, and following a dismal spring season, summer was where he made his move. His relationship with Jake "Xmithie" Puchero has made them the most fearsome top and jungle pairing in North America, and Flame's willingness to bend whatever way his team needs him at a specific time has turned him into an all-around player that even the old Flame couldn't call himself. A meeting with Longzhu's Khan in Group B in the round of 16 will be one of the most looked-at matchups.
4. Kevin 'Hauntzer' Yarnell
4 points - 4th (Erzberger), Not Ranked (Rand), 4th (Torres), Not Ranked (Moser)
Hauntzer is no doubt one of the best Western top laners, and while he hasn't proved himself to be at the level of the best Korean top laners, he is still a blessing for Team SoloMid's bot-lane focused gameplay. Hauntzer has no problem performing on carries in the top lane, but he really makes his money in teamfights as an excellent frontline player.
Tie - 5. Chen 'Ziv' Yi
3 points - Not Ranked (Erzberger), 5th (Rand), Not Ranked (Torres), 4th (Moser)
Ziv is no longer "the crowned jewel of the LMS," but he is still Taiwan's strongest top laner and one of its strongest players. His flexibility on both carries and tanks is reminiscent of Hauntzer's play as he fulfills a similar role for ahq eSports Club. Ziv doesn't receive a lot of attention from his team, but he still practically performs as the main carry.
Tie - 5. Ke '957' Chang-Yu
3 points - Not Ranked (Erzberger), 3rd (Rand), Not Ranked (Torres), Not Ranked (Moser)
Team WE is one of the more flexible teams at this tournament and 957 is part of that package, able to flex between carries and tanks with ease.
Honorable mentions
Paul 'sOAZ' Boyer
2 points - 5th (Erzberger), Not Ranked (Rand), Not Ranked (Torres), 5th (Moser)
sOAZ's sheer legacy makes him worth an honorable mention, but beyond that, he has had the kind of year we no longer thought possible of the French top laner in terms of trading sides effectively and setting up reactionary plays for Fnatic.
Barney 'Alphari' Morris
1 points - Not Ranked (Erzberger), Not Ranked (Rand), 5th (Torres), Not Ranked (Moser)
Alphari is coming into the World Championship relatively green, with no international experience, but he should be able to show off his laning prowess at the top level.