From hero to zero. In the span of just a few weeks,
’s dream of qualifying for
MSI has completely unraveled despite finishing first in the
LEC Spring Split regular season. Following a 3-0 defeat to
during the opening week of the playoffs, the French organization suffered another sweep this Sunday, falling 3-0 to
and bringing its campaign to an abrupt end.
With this crushing loss, Team Vitality enters the record books for all the wrong reasons, becoming the first team in the competition’s history to finish first in the regular season and then fail to win a single playoff game. While LEC observers had been widely impressed by the team's development throughout the split, Vitality once again faltered at the very moment expectations were at their highest.
A series closer than the scoreline suggests
Despite the final score, the two teams engaged in a fiercely contested battle across all three games, one that ultimately exposed several of Team Vitality’s lingering weaknesses. One of the most glaring issues, already visible in last week’s series against Movistar KOI, was the drafting phase. In Game 1, GIANTX comfortably secured a composition featuring Xin Zhao, Ashe, Seraphine, and Viktor, while Team Vitality struggled to find the tools necessary to effectively answer it.
The following two games followed a similar pattern. On both occasions, Team Vitality built a sizeable early advantage only to watch the Spanish side gradually claw its way back into the game. GIANTX’s victory was driven in large part by an outstanding performance from the jungle-mid duo of
and
, who consistently outperformed their counterparts throughout the series.
In Game 3, Team Vitality attempted to place its faith in regular-season MVP
by drafting Akali for him. Yet despite gaining an early lead, he was once again unable to carry his team across the finish line. Meanwhile,
’s Twisted Fate suffered a sixth consecutive defeat, with the veteran midlaner now having failed to record a victory on the champion since 2022.
Following this latest disappointment, Team Vitality’s Spring Split comes to an end. The team will return on July 24 for the start of the Summer Split, but significant work awaits. Beyond simply replicating their regular-season success, Vitality must now find a way to translate their potential into playoff performances if they hope to compete for the region’s biggest prizes.
