Recently, G2 Esports, known as the “Circus,” officially became the next name from the Major regions to secure a ticket to MSI 2022 after winning the LEC Spring 2022. Many thought G2 would repeat their disappointing performance from the 2021 season, but the opposite was true. Since their loss to Fnatic that forced them to “climb the tower,” G2 has not lost any games and has surged straight to the championship of the number one League of Legends tournament in Europe.
An interesting point since G2’s victory is that the League of Legends community has been talking a lot about T1. It’s likely that everyone knows G2 is the team Faker is most eager to avenge. In the 2019 season alone, G2 eliminated T1 twice from the two biggest international tournaments in the League of Legends scene: MSI and Worlds.
Those defeats became even more detrimental as they opened the door to a downward spiral for T1. In the 2020 season, Faker and his teammates won the Spring Split, but MSI was not held due to the pandemic. Later, T1 missed the ticket to Worlds 2020. Moving to the 2021 season, it was simply the absolute dominance of DWG KIA.
Now, the two teams meet again, but the situation has changed significantly. Although both G2 and T1 are on long unbeaten streaks, in a match, only one team can emerge victorious. If they encounter each other at MSI 2022, can the “expatriates” defeat Faker and his teammates?
Innovative Playstyle: G2 1 – 0 T1
In terms of creating innovative playstyles, G2 has a slight edge over T1. The “National Circus” is well-known for their sometimes very “strange” gameplay. This is also a very characteristic part of the League of Legends scene in the European and American regions. In this LEC Spring 2022, G2 has brought out many “strange” matchups such as Yone Top Lane and Pyke Support. In fact, Caps even used “old” champions like Lissandra or Cassiopeia in the Mid Lane.
As for T1, they still have a certain level of versatility, but it mostly lies in the Support position with Keria. The LCK’s gameplay is known to be heavily strategic, and while players can be creative, it must align with the team’s style of play. This is why Keria’s champion pool is very wide, but mostly falls within the meta. G2, on the other hand, doesn’t care too much about the meta. As long as they find a champion they see as good and like, they will pick it. In fact, Broken Blade rarely uses Jayce, a champion considered a “signature” pick for Zeus.
Therefore, in terms of playstyle innovation, from champion bans and picks, G2 appears to be more “strange” than T1. But this is only one factor and leans more towards the competitive environment and strategic thinking between the two teams. Each team can make adjustments suitable for their respective matches at the upcoming MSI 2022.
Quality Players: G2 2-1 T1
In this regard, both G2 and T1 have a rather high-quality lineup compared to the general standard of the tournament and the League of Legends scene in general. Speaking of T1, there’s no need to elaborate too much. This is the team that achieved the first perfect win record in the history of the LCK tournament. Not to mention, the bot duo Gumayusi – Keria is considered the best bot lane in the world. Zeus is anticipated to have some “legendary” clashes with Nuguri in the upcoming Summer Split if this player joins DK. Oner is the MVP of the LCK Spring 2022 finals while Faker is the number one “record holder” in the League of Legends scene.
As for G2, Jankos and CaPs can be said to be regaining their form from the 2019 season, even though both are no longer very young. Broken Blade is very experienced while the duo Flakked – Targamas is making G2 fans, in particular, and the European League of Legends community, in general, gradually forget the duo Rekkles – Mikyx, who did not succeed in the 2021 season.
Therefore, it can be said that each position on both sides holds significant potential and can play a crucial role in turning the tide of the game. However, comparatively, G2’s bot lane seems to be slightly weaker. But if on a day when Broken Blade, Jankos, or CaPs shine, then as long as Flakked – Targamas perform adequately, G2 can emerge victorious.
Influence and Performance of the Key Players: G2 2-2 T1
The most experienced player and arguably the most influential in G2 right now is none other than “expatriate” Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski. However, one major issue is that Jankos is not a player who has been consistently stable over a long period. For example, during the 2021 season, he, along with CaPs, Wunder, Rekkles, and Mikyx, saw a significant drop in performance. Many were surprised with Jankos as he seemed to be experiencing a “revival” in this Spring Split.
As for Faker, the “Demon King” remains the same. He may have to sit on the bench at times, but in this Spring 2022, Faker has proven that “the older the ginger, the spicier.” Even though he sometimes has to take a step back for the team to advance, Faker’s influence is profoundly evident. Moreover, this is also the style of play he has favored since T1 parted ways with coaches Daeny and Zefa.
When it comes to influence and the ability to maintain peak performance, Faker is not inferior to Jankos, if not superior. Although they do not play the same position, both must find ways to limit each other to control the game and secure victory.
The current balance between G2 and T1 is quite even. If G2 has a “psychological” advantage as T1’s nemesis, Faker and his team have the home advantage. Therefore, this is definitely one of the most anticipated matches at the upcoming MSI 2022 – where the winning team will very likely become the new champion of the MSI held in Korea this time.