In
LEC and
LCS EU history, Fnatic vs G2 matches were and are still a custom of European
League of Legends high-stakes matches. However, in the last few years, the outcome was almost always favoring the Samurais, resulting in a 2-year win streak of the german organisation in bo5 against Fnatic.
Monday's match - the LEC Summer Playoffs' Winner finals - firstly seemed to be another easy G2 victory as Rasmus "Caps" Winther dismantled the Orange and Black in 26 minutes in the first game, with an impressive Ezreal mid performance. But Fnatic didn't lose their confidence and quickly equalized in the trail of Iván "Razork" Martín Díaz masterclass in game 2.
Once again, Razork has established himself as the main carry of FNC
Game 3 was then a G2-FNC classic : it took 47 minutes, four Barons and three Elder Drakes for one Nexus to be destroyed. Surprisingly, Fnatic were the team to thrive in clutch moments, who so often are the prerogative of G2. Meta reading and strategy building were central to FNC's success, as their double frontlane (K'sante-Sejuani in game 2, Ornn-Sejuani in game 3) was a a pain for G2 to go through during teamfights. G2 then decided to steal away the Sejuani, allowing them to take profit of FNC's mistakes in positionning in game 4.
And then, Fnatic first picked... Renekton
Off to game 5 we went, with a 100% winrate Sejuani on the line, it seemed like the Freldjordian porc rider was the key of the BO5. However, Razork refused the pick and pushed for a Renekton b1 in order to secure a strong 2v2 toplane and baiting a weak Sejuani pick. G2 then r1'd Sejuani to deny Renekton-Sejuani combo who makes quick disposal of most toplane matchups, but this meant that one pick was left open : Nidalee.
Often hated, often picked in the wrong placese, Nidalee helped FNC beat G2
G2 had so far banned Nidalee all games in the BO5, respecting Razork's historic main, but considering Sejuani was the main pick, they may have believed that Fnatic would simply first pick Sejuani. The consequences were brutal : Razork quickly secured a 1k gold lead over Martin "Yike" Sundelin, killed Sergen "BrokenBlade" Çelik after his first jungle clear and overtook the game with a 75% KP and perfect KDA (alongside outfarming both toplaners and barely evening Caps). Despite Steven "Hans Sama" Liv's best effort on Caitlyn, G2 were never able to control the map and died to FNC's poke composition.
Is FNC-G2 rivalry back ?
Despite many storylines being written around G2-FNC's rivalry, such a thing cannot exist if it's always going one way. In Spring Playoffs 2022 - FNC's last BO5 victory over G2 before this day - G2 still won the split after stomping FNC in the loser's bracket finals. If one wants to recall an elimination match victory of FNC over G2 in a BO5, one must go back to 2021 FNC's miracle Loser Run. And if one wants to recall a title for Fnatic, one must go back to... 2018 (GX Midlaner Adam "Jackies" Jeřábek was 13 years old).
Header Photo Credit : Riot Games
