Honestly, G2 Esports are so good it’s almost boring. As if 17 League of Legends titles in the region aren’t enough to cement their status as the best EMEA has to offer, the team’s also unlocked another flex, claiming the first-ever LEC Slam title.
Now, their sights are set on the 2024 League World Championship, where the ever-dominant squad aim to turn their regional dominance into another global conquest.
Today’s victory marked an unprecedented achievement: G2 became the first team to claim the LEC Slam, winning the Winter, Spring, Summer Splits, and the Season Finals in a single year. As the cherry on top, the League grand final was won 3-1 against their historic rivals Fnatic, who were hoping to reclaim a regional title after a six-year drought.
G2’s journey towards winning the Season Finals was anything but smooth. Their flaws were exposed early when they were sent to the lower bracket after a surprising loss to MAD Lions KOI in the first round of playoffs. Their resilience shone through down in the lower bracket as they fought their way back, crushing GIANTX, dodging a shock early elimination at the hands of Team BDS, and eventually taking revenge on MAD KOI to secure a spot in the Grand Finals where Fnatic, winners of the upper bracket, were waiting.
Once there, G2’s solid drafts, clean gameplan, and unwavering confidence proved too much for their opponents to handle. Fnatic put up a strong fight, nearly taking the first game of the series in what was the longest match of the split—and the longest game ever between the rivals—but G2 managed to secure first point. Fnatic answered in game two, winning convincingly and giving fans hope for a full five-game series. G2 quickly dashed those hopes, winning the next two to seal the series and claim their 17th regional title.
The rivalry between G2 and Fnatic is nearly a decade old, but once again, their clash gave fans in Munich and at home an entertaining and intense series.
Unfortunately, Fnatic—once the dominant force in European League—is still so far from reclaiming its former glory; the org’s last title can be traced back to before the LEC rebranding, back in the EU LCS days of 2018.
This final also serves as a preview of what these teams might bring to the 2024 World Championship, set to begin in less than a month in Berlin. With the conclusion of the Season Finals Roadshow, the 2024 LEC season comes to an end. Now, all eyes turn to Berlin as the world’s best teams prepare for the biggest event of the year—Worlds 2024.
Published: Sep 1, 2024 04:08 pm