It felt like a familiar story. Under pressure on Monday in the LEC, GIANTX cracked and were clean swept by a confident-looking Fnatic. It’s the end of the road for GX, one of the most entertaining teams of the year, who ultimately finish in fifth place in every split of the year.

Only four teams remain in the LEC, the same four that have consistently finished in the top spots across all three splits this year. The battle continues in Madrid, where Fnatic and Karmine Corp will fight for the final Worlds ticket, joining Movistar KOI and G2 Esports.

Under Pressure

The series showcased Fnatic’s growing confidence and discipline, contrasting sharply with GIANTX’s struggles under pressure. Despite dominating early in the first game, GIANTX collapsed around the 42-minute mark when they held a gold lead of over 9.6k. The game was lost within the next minute. What followed were nearly two back-to-back stomps, despite GIANTX’s fiery Nidalee pick by Ismaïl "ISMA" Boualem in game three, paired with Adam "Jackies" Jeřábek’ Sion midlane, a combination they had practiced well.

But when facing one of the four LEC powerhouses of 2025, even the smallest mistake is fatal. Fnatic held their ground and sent a clear message to their upcoming opponent: they are ready. Notably, Elias "Upset" Lipp was outstanding on his Kai’Sa alongside Mihael "Mikyx" Mehle’s Pyke, and in game 3, he brought out a very unusual Vayne, his first since Summer 2021 and only the fourth in his career.

GIANTX was never able to break through their ceiling. After the match, head coach André "Guilhoto" Guilhoto expressed his disappointment and the stress that took hold of the players after the tragic scenario in game one. Though uncertain what exactly went wrong in the heat of the moment, he reflected on the good memories of the yearlong journey with "a roster that worked very hard": "It’s frustrating, but it’s one of the most fun teams I’ve had the pleasure to work with."

History could be made in Madrid

Ultimately, the result was unsurprising. Fnatic has been one of the league’s most stable teams since the inception of League of Legends. Their upcoming match against Karmine Corp promises to be exceptional given what’s at stake. The winner will finish at least in the top 3 in the LEC, while the loser will suffer their biggest disappointment in LEC history. This gladiator-like battle will take place in Madrid, a venue likely to support Fnatic, who play with two Spanish players, against the French Karmine Corp, the native esports rivals of the Madrid-based team.

History may also weigh heavily. Fnatic has appeared in twelve out of 14 possible World Championships, the most Worlds appearances of any organization ever. They have not missed Worlds since 2016 and hold the longest consecutive qualification streak at eight times in a row. Fans can look forward to an epic showdown in Madrid in two weeks, where Fnatic will face Karmine Corp in a high-stakes battle for the final LEC spot at Worlds 2025.