G2 Esports has three titles to defend, and will kick-off their journey in playoffs against GIANTX, this Saturday at 8 PM CET. A reminder that for the first time in EMEA, all matches will be played in Hard Fearless Draft mode for the Winter playoffs only. Let’s get into the nitty gritty of this matchup.
Photo Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
After three weeks of Regular Season, every LEC team has already showcased a glimpse of their shape coming into 2025. For two of them – Rogue and SK Gaming – it’s already time for vacations as we’ll get to see them perform again in 2 months, for the start of the Spring Split. But the players and staff in the region never stop reminding us: these first 9 games aren’t of much interest if it is for both eliminated teams. For others, it’s now time for the real deal.
Even seeding is not important at all, it is just a matter of winning as many matches as possible to lift the trophy and attend the first edition of First Stand, the new international event with the champions of every major league. G2 Esports fell off their pedestal after a perfect year in the LEC 2024. This year, they had a very slow start but found their rhythm little by little, to eventually complete a 3-0 third week (3rd place in the regular season with a 6-3 record overall). The complete opposite of their first opponent in playoffs: GIANTX. The Giants kicked off their season with a 3-0 week, followed by two 1-2 weeks (6th place in regular season with a 5-4 record).
G2 vs GX – Opposition of Opposites
This match is for sure one of this week’s fixtures. Arguably the second most interesting series, after BDS-KOI the next day. First because on paper, both of these teams belong to the top five and second because on the Rift, they both showed a bevy of positive and negative signs. This match will show which team has best overcome their hurdles so far. And in this regard, G2 obviously seems to have the upper hand lately. In all of their three last matches, the Samurai played the same draft pattern to secure their qualification in playoffs: a tank in the toplane (Cho’Gath/Ornn), a teamfight/skirmish oriented jungler (Vi/Wukong) and two mobile carries (Ezreal/Ahri/Aurora). Labros “Labrov” Papoutsakis – considered the weakest link during the first two weeks – has undoubtedly grown in confidence by playing three very reassuring Leona games.
Photo Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
I know for a fact (by watching interviews from GX Nicolas Perez and G2 Romain Bigeard) that GIANTX started training in Fearless Draft before the third week, while G2 didn’t. And it shows, because here again, GX exhibited the opposite type of pattern to G2 in Week 3. The Giants haven’t played a single identical champion from game to game in their last three matches. An identity crisis? Too early to say, I think GX staff were trying things on stage in order to be ready for Fearless. Because if G2 indeed found their rythm on a certain style, they’ll need more in order to perform with this new format. In their recent history, the Samurai staff – led by Dylan Falco – and sololaners always found solutions very early when it comes to meta adaptation/champion pool so I am not too worried about Fearless. I would even guess that they will benefit from the format and the new patch. The question mark is mostly on the newcomers: Rudy “Skewmond” Seeman and Labrov, not yet known for his champion pool.
Old and New Rivalries
When it comes to narratives, this match is full of it. In the toplane, the rookie of GX Eren “Lot” Yıldız always stated that Sergen “BrokenBlade” Çelik was the player he was looking up to. Now, he will face him in BO3, with the Rookie Of The Year contender tag. For me Lot is the most impressive rookie so far. I didn’t expect as much from him as I did from Skewmond or Caliste “Caliste” Henry-hennebert, but he has set the bar very high by individually putting in a hell of a regular season. Speaking of ROY, he has the 2024 winner on his team: Adam “Jackies”Jeřábek. The Prodigy Already Solokillled The EU Goat Rasmus ”Caps” Winther in Summer last year and he is aiming for getting closer to his legacy, starting this year. Not to mention the altercation between the two teams’ head coaches, highlighted by the LEC production during Week 2.
Finally the Korean botlane of GX was playing for Fnatic last year. They know what it’s like to lose against G2 in playoffs (5-1 in 2024), and now that the Samurai seem weaker, this might be the best shot they’ll ever have to finally take them down. Oh “Noah” Hyeon-taek even declared this when we discussed together about his personal ambitions for 2025:
The war has been declared.
I’m still convinced that G2 will be sharper than GX for this match, mainly because of their experience and confidence on those stages, but also because of their recent performances. So I’d put my money on them, and even think they’ll win 2-0. In any case, the team that emerges from this BO3 should be reassured of its strength status compared to the other teams in the top 5, as well as its understanding of the meta. An aspect both teams may have lacked in the first few weeks of competition.