G2 Esports narrowly escaped defeat against GAM Esports. The outcome remained uncertain until the very end, as the #2 seed from the LCP nearly pulled off a reverse sweep. But in the end, it was the European team who clinched the series 3-2. With this, the Play-In stage concludes after three intense days of matches, and both Bilibili Gaming and G2 secure their spots in the main stage.

While the result might seem predictable to some, it's important to highlight just how tight this Play-In stage has been — arguably the most competitive international Play-In we've ever seen. Out of five matches, three went to a full five-game series. The only exception is BLG, which swept both of their series 3-0. It's a testament to both the rising level of competition in smaller regions and to a G2 that looks far less dominant than it did in previous years.

A Sweaty Win

This is the second time in three matches that G2 has been pushed to five games—first by FURIA in their opening series, and now by GAM, who did the LCP proud. Add to that the heavy 0-3 loss to BLG, and G2’s overall showing in the Play-In looks shaky at best. Still, they come into the main stage with a rare advantage: 13 games of international stage time already under their belt. That kind of experience can go a long way—not just in building confidence on-stage, but also in getting a better read on the meta, something Play-In teams often struggle to grasp fully.

Now, it’s time to reset. The win and qualification are locked in, and everything starts from scratch with the real tournament ahead. For GAM, though, the journey ends here after just three days of competition. But there's no reason to hang their heads. As usual, they came in as underdogs, played with heart, embraced their style — and their flaws — and nearly brought down the biggest powerhouse in Europe. A win today would’ve added another remarkable upset to their already rich international history.

Unfortunately, the gap in the midlane proved too much. Rasmus "Caps" Winther, paired with Rudy "SkewMond" Semaan, delivered when it mattered most. Thanks to them, G2 still looks convincing in victory, even if their defeats raise some serious concerns. A series like this may help them find the consistency they still lack, especially in toplane and botlane.

Main Stage Awaits

With the Samurais’ hard-fought victory, the full schedule and matchups for the main event are now set. And G2 certainly didn't get the easiest draw—they’ll open their run against the reigning champions, Gen.G. Fresh off a historic 18-0 split in the LCK, Gen.G are more deserving than ever of their #1 seed. In that same half of the bracket, LPL champions will face the LTA North champions in what promises to be an unpredictable showdown. The last time FlyQuest showed up on the international stage, they pushed Gen.G to five games in one of the most memorable series by a Western team in years, during Worlds 2024 Quarterfinals. Anyone's Legend will thus make their international debut against a team that should not be underestimated.

On the other side of the bracket, T1 will face the #1 seed from the LCP, CTBC Flying Oyster, who turned heads with their impressive performance at the First Stand earlier this year. This will be their first-ever encounter with the reigning World Champions, and it's set to be a major test. Just before that match, the Spanish LEC champions, Movistar KOI, will take on a familiar opponent. These two organizations last met at Worlds, where BLG secured a clean 26-minute victory. Eight of the ten current players were already on the Rift that day. The question now is whether the arrival of Joseph “Jojopyun” Pyun—coming off a strong LEC playoff run—can reshape the team's international performance. He carries a unique legacy, being the first American representative to compete for Europe on the global stage.

As a reminder, MSI once again features a double-elimination format, so none of these opening matches will be do-or-die. All matches will be best-of-five.