Fnatic have overpowered G2 Esports in a 5-series showdown in the upper bracket finals of LEC Summer Playoffs.
The most exciting matches are on at the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) with the Summer Playoffs ongoing. And on Monday evening (22 July), one team secured a spot at the LEC Summer Finals, and another step closer to taking a slot at Worlds 2024.
Fnatic, after overpowering G2 Esports 3-2 in a 5-series showdown, are moving forward to the LEC Grand Finals. This guarantees them at least a second-place finish in the LEC Summer Playoffs, and at least the second seed at Worlds.
Despite a fourth-place finish in the regular season, Fnatic had a dominant run in the playoffs so far, having defeated GIANTX 2-1 in the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals, before sweeping SK Gaming in the Upper Bracket semifinals 2-0, to meet G2 at the Upper Bracket Finals.
Meanwhile, their opponents, G2 Esports, came into the Playoffs in third place, and have been undefeated at the LEC Playoffs so far, sweeping both Karmine Corp and Team BDS on their way to the Upper Bracket Finals.
Here’s how the action unfolded:
Fnatic and G2 kicked things off in the first game with double ADC comps. Fnatic went with Lucian mid, Jinx bot, Zyra jungle, Alistar support, and Renekton top, while G2 chose Ezreal mid, Miss Fortune bot, Brand jungle, Leona support, and Jayce top.
G2 dominated the early game, securing kills and managing waves with ease. With a 6k gold lead and a Baron buff, G2 crushed Fnatic’s base in a swift 26-minute victory.
In the second match, Fnatic opted for a tankier lineup, featuring K’Sante top, Sejuani jungle, Azir mid, Ezreal bot, and Bard support.
Meanwhile, G2 went triple ADC with Varus top, Lucian mid, Kai’Sa bot, Maokai jungle, and Rakan support.
Despite G2’s early aggression, Fnatic’s tanky comp outlasted G2’s squishy champs. With a squishier team composition, G2 struggled in the late game, having very little tools aside from Maokai’s ult and some of Rakan’s skills to disengage or set up flanks.
After a 34-minute shred-fest, Fnatic cleaned up G2 in the Jungle and marched down their base to destroy the Nexus and win the second game.
For the third game, Fnatic played it safe with Ornn top and Caitlyn and Rell bot, while G2 stuck to their 2-ADC comp with Ezreal mid, Jhin bot, Nautilus support, Renekton top, and Zyra jungle.
The teams traded blows evenly, stretching the game beyond 47 minutes. A clutch Elder Drake fight gave Fnatic the edge, and they stormed down mid to take the Nexus and win the third game, taking their team to match point.
Backs against the wall, G2 went all in for Game 4, picking Varus top, Corki mid, Miss Fortune bot, Sejuani jungle, and Rell support.
The match was a bloodbath, with aggressive ganks and solo kills from Steven "Hans Sama" Liv giving G2 the upper hand. This allowed G2 to seize map control and shred Fnatic in every encounter, closing out the game in 30 minutes to force the game to silver scrapes.
In the fifth game decider, Fnatic drafted Renekton top, Nidalee jungle, Corki mid, Jhin bot, and Rell support, while G2 chose Twisted Fate top, Sejuani jungle, Lucian mid, Caitlyn bot, and Braum support.
Fnatic took early map control and capitalised on G2’s mistakes, building a gold lead. After a 25-minute skirmish, Fnatic broke into G2’s base, and destroyed the Nexus, to win the fifth game and claim the series.
Fnatic advance to the Grand Finals on Sunday (28 July) after their intense victory. Meanwhile, G2 drop to the Lower Bracket Finals, where they will face the winner of the Lower Bracket Semifinals on Saturday (27 July).
