S15 Swiss Round: Saint Gunner, the expert excavator, tears apart opponents as AL defeats CFO 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals

In the third round of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship Swiss stage, AL defeated CFO 2-1, securing their third consecutive win and moving on to the quarterfinals.

Game One

CFO: Sion, Wukong, Aphelios, Corki, Nami

AL: Kled, Maokai, Ryze, Gwen, Neeko

Early on, both teams were very cautious with no intense clashes. AL took the first blood and then controlled two dragons in a row. At 15 minutes, CFO caught Shanks' Ryze and successfully secured the Rift Herald. Using the Herald, CFO destroyed AL’s mid outer turret. A team fight then erupted near the river where Junjia’s Wukong clone baited out three major ultimates from AL, leading to a decisive CFO team fight victory and dragon control.

At 22 minutes, CFO forced a fight near Elder Dragon; HongQ’s Aphelios landed a massive ultimate hitting four players. CFO won the fight 1-for-4 and took Elder Dragon. At 30 minutes, CFO attempted Baron but Tarzan arrived in time to steal it. AL secured the Baron but was wiped out in the ensuing team fight. At 37 minutes, Saint Gunner initiated a team fight mid with his ultimate but CFO counter-engaged and wiped AL’s team. Doggo’s Corki scored a furious quadra kill leading CFO to win the first game.

Game Two

AL: Ambessa, Xin Zhao, Orianna, Ziggs, Leona

CFO: Rumble, Pantheon, Akali, Lucian, Braum

At the start, CFO’s bot lane dove Hope to secure first blood. In the subsequent dragon fight, AL failed to get the dragon but traded 2-for-3 kills. On top lane, Rest’s Rumble dealt massive damage, helping CFO secure a 1-for-2 trade and gain momentum. By 15 minutes, AL took the Rift Herald and pushed down CFO’s mid outer turret. At 17 minutes, a dragon fight broke out where AL’s team fight control eliminated four CFO members, reversing their early disadvantage and disrupting CFO’s dragon control rhythm.

At 21 minutes, CFO aggressively caught AL’s top and jungle, but the kills went to AL’s support. CFO rushed Elder Dragon but made a mistake during jungle pulling; Saint Gunner’s Ambessa followed up with an ultimate to instantly kill CFO’s Pantheon, allowing AL to defend Elder Dragon. At 23 minutes, Hope was caught and killed, CFO went for the dragon, but AL, despite being outnumbered, had Tarzan steal the dragon and push CFO back, securing Elder Dragon control. Even in disadvantage, CFO chose to initiate fights, but at 27 minutes their engage focused all damage on Kael’s Leona, allowing AL to counter-kill four CFO players and take Baron, then smoothly finish the game with a decisive push.

Game Three

CFO: Renekton, Vi, Taliyah, Miss Fortune, Nautilus

AL: Rek’Sai, Troll, LeBlanc, Jhin, Alistar

Both teams played cautiously during early laning with no opportunities for kills. At 11 minutes, AL caught Rest’s Renekton and secured first blood. CFO then sent three players top to target Saint Gunner and successfully killed him. At 15 minutes, Rift Herald respawned and CFO secured it. CFO’s mid and jungle pushed top lane towers, but AL responded by catching and killing two of them.

CFO deployed Rift Herald mid to break the turret and started a team fight, killing AL's jungle and support, gaining strong momentum. However, shortly after, AL turned the tide by winning a team fight over Elder Dragon on top lane, wiping CFO’s team. Saint Gunner’s Rek’Sai “digs and digs,” scoring a triple kill. AL kept pressing the advantage with continuous picks and team fights. In the late game, AL obtained the Chemtech Soul, while CFO was forced into a defensive stance. At 29 minutes, AL killed four CFO members and pushed mid to win the game outright. AL achieved a three-game winning streak to reach the S15 quarterfinals.