After sweeping all three LEC titles, G2 Esports enter Worlds 2026 with renewed confidence, improved macro, and bigger ambitions.
The stakes are getting higher for 
G2 Esports as they head into the 2026 League of Legends World Championship. Having swept all three LEC titles this year, the European powerhouse are looking to carry their domestic success onto the international stage, where they have already shown flashes of brilliance. Their impressive run to the First Stand grand final, which included a stunning 3-0 victory over tournament favourites 
Gen.G, proved they could go toe-to-toe with the world's best. Now, with another international title within reach, G2 are hoping to take things even further at Worlds.
GosuGamers had the opportunity to catch up with G2's veteran bot laner 
Steven “Hans sama” Liv ahead of the Worlds 2026 Swiss Stage, where he spoke about the team's growth, their tournament preparations, and what it would take to make another deep international run. He also shared his thoughts on the Worlds meta, G2's unconventional champion picks, and playfully floated the possibility of bringing back one of his signature champions.
For Hans Sama, the journey to Worlds has already been a positive one. After arriving in Los Angeles, G2 spent several weeks bootcamping, adjusting to the time difference, and preparing for the competition. "We've been having a good time practising, having a good bootcamp, getting better from the jet lag," he told GosuGamers, adding that the team were also focusing on staying healthy and maintaining a good mental state.
That preparation has left him optimistic about what G2 can accomplish after a season of continued development and success.
Hans Sama reveals how G2 Esports have improved ahead of Worlds 2026
G2's domestic achievements speak for themselves. The team won LEC Versus, Spring, and Summer, sweeping all three European competitions in 2026. But according to Hans Sama, the G2 arriving at Worlds are not quite the same team that began the season.
"We've learned a lot how we play as a team," he said, explaining that G2 have continued to develop as the meta evolved and their opponents improved. He also pointed to his individual progress, admitting that he had a relatively slow start to the year but had grown more confident towards the end of the season.
For G2, the challenge now is translating that development into performances on the international stage. "We are coming up with confidence and it's all going to be about showcasing what we have as knowledge, skill, and what we showed in practise on stage," he explained.
One area Hans Sama believes has improved significantly is G2's macro play, which he admitted was not quite where it needed to be even when the team were winning domestically. "I think we improved our macro a lot these past couple of weeks," he revealed. "It was not at its very good state, even in LEC finals."
Despite sweeping Movistar KOI in the LEC Summer grand final, G2 still had aspects of their gameplay to refine. Their recent preparation has given Hans Sama renewed confidence in the team's decision-making and coordination. "We've been implementing that well," he said, adding that he was excited to see whether G2 could reproduce those improvements on stage against the world's strongest teams.
Hans Sama on G2's champion picks and the Worlds 2026 meta
G2 have also become known for their willingness to experiment with unusual champion selections. From 
Sergen “BrokenBlade” Çelik's Kled and Shen to 
Labros “Labrov” Papoutsakis's Bard and Hans Sama's own Syndra in the bot lane, the team have shown they are comfortable bringing unconventional strategies into competitive matches.
According to Hans Sama, those picks often come down to individual champion expertise and whether a selection fits the team's composition or game plan. He also credited G2's experienced players and coaching staff for helping the team revisit strategies that have fallen out of favour.
That experience includes mid laner 
Rasmus “Caps” Winther, who became the first Western player inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends earlier this year. The milestone adds another accolade to G2's veteran roster, whose collective experience Hans Sama believes helps them revisit strategies that other teams may have left behind.
"Having that old knowledge as well helps us do some stuff that maybe you would say forgotten today," he explained. That flexibility could be important at Worlds, where teams from different regions bring their own interpretations of the competitive meta. Despite the tournament being played on a different patch from the LEC Summer playoffs, Hans Sama does not believe the changes have transformed the game.
"Nothing really, really hard changed," he said, describing the current meta as largely similar to what G2 had been playing previously. Instead, he believes regional playstyles could have a greater influence on how the tournament develops. Teams from China, Korea, and other regions bring different strategies, sometimes forcing opponents to adapt.
As for which champions he would like to play at Worlds, Hans Sama offered an interesting possibility. "I think maybe a creative champion," he said, before playfully suggesting a familiar pick. "You could say Draven because he got a buff, you know, like, who knows about my team."
Draven has long been one of Hans Sama's signature champions. While he stopped short of confirming whether G2 had prepared the pick, a possible return at Worlds would certainly be entertaining.
Hans Sama is confident G2 can make a deep run at Worlds 2026
G2 have already demonstrated their ability to challenge some of the world's strongest teams this year. At First Stand, they stunned Gen.G with a 3-0 semifinal victory before falling to
Bilibili Gaming in the grand final. Although their subsequent international results were less consistent, that run showed what G2 could accomplish when everything came together.
For Hans Sama, one of the keys to another deep Worlds run will be understanding the tournament's evolving meta before their opponents do. "Figuring the meta faster than the other teams," he said when asked what could help G2 reach another international grand final. "If you are ahead of the meta, you have a decent chance to go far."
He remains confident in G2's chances, approaching the tournament with a willingness to take risks and enjoy the competition. "I'm very confident to go far this time around with the team," he said. "Nothing to lose, just go for it, have fun."
Hans Sama is also looking forward to facing familiar international opponents. He mentioned 
Hanwha Life Esports and Gen.G as teams whose playstyles he was interested in studying, while highlighting Bilibili Gaming's bot lane as an exciting potential matchup. G2 and BLG previously faced each other at First Stand, with the Chinese squad prevailing in the grand final.
"They are a very strong bot lane, so it's always exciting to face them," he said. "I like to face strong opponents."
How Hans Sama prepares mentally for Worlds 2026
Beyond the team's results, Hans Sama has set himself a personal goal for Worlds: maintaining the mental consistency needed to perform at his best. Rather than focusing solely on mechanical skill, he wants to approach each match with the right mindset, remain aware of what is happening in-game, and respond effectively to difficult situations.
He relies on routines including self-talk and meditation to stay present and make the most of the knowledge he has accumulated throughout his career. "I do a lot of self-talk, a lot of meditation, and I have a lot of strategies beforehand to learn about the game, to make myself ready," he shared.
That emphasis on mental preparation also extends to his partnership with support player Labrov. Hans Sama believes the duo have improved considerably, particularly during Summer, but stressed that their mental state before each match remains crucial. "I think the mental creates the performance when you're skilled enough."
With Worlds 2026 underway, Hans Sama and G2 will have another opportunity to put their preparation to the test. In a message to G2 supporters, he thanked fans for the energy they bring to the team's matches and promised that the roster would keep fighting.
"The energy, definitely, we feel it and it's going to be a banger," he said. "We can go both sides, but we're not going to give up. Let's go all the way."
