Even after losing the LEC Spring 2021 championship, many believed it was just an accident for G2 Esports. However, losing to MAD Lions in the LEC Summer 2021 Playoffs ultimately proved a harsh reality that the “international circus” is no longer the unrivaled champion in Europe.
The rise of teams like Rogue and MAD Lions as new powers in EU League of Legends is welcome news, but it’s easy to see that these teams haven’t significantly increased in strength; it’s mainly due to G2’s noticeable decline. However, to fall to the point of losing a spot at the World Championship was something no one expected.
Since its establishment in 2016, G2 Esports has never missed a World Championship season. But their streak of being regulars at the largest League of Legends tournament in the world has officially ended for G2, after a shocking 2-3 defeat to Fnatic early this morning in the third round of the LEC Summer 2021 Playoffs.
Based on the scoring system of the LEC, G2 Esports has officially lost their 2021 World Championship spot to their arch-rivals Fnatic, ending a streak of five consecutive years qualifying for this tournament.
And perhaps the name most mentioned in this tragedy is none other than Rekkles. The G2 Esports marksman can be considered a legend of Fnatic, but earlier this year, he broke fans’ hearts by moving to their fierce rival G2 Esports. Along with this was the statement: “I joined G2 to realize my dream of winning the World Championship.” But then, he ended up being defeated by his former teammates like Bwipo and Hylissang, earning a front-row seat to watch the World Championship from home.
The successful recruitment of Rekkles is believed to be the reason G2 seemed less inclined to retain Perkz – their mainstay. In fact, the team was confident that the addition of the former Fnatic captain could be seen as an “upgrade” to the roster, replacing a “temporary” marksman with a “premium” one of top-tier European caliber.
However, reality has proven otherwise; Rekkles’ performance in G2 colors left a bland impression. Even in the recent match against his former team Fnatic, Rekkles was one of the worst performers, alongside Caps – another former FNC player.
The poor form of the “super marksman” Rekkles, coupled with the decline of mainstays like Wunder and Jankos, caused G2 Esports to experience their worst season in the team’s history. Allowing Perkz – someone who not only met the professional requirements despite playing off-role as a marksman but also was the captain and driving force in G2’s gameplay – to leave had unforeseen consequences, as the team completely lost their inherent identity.
Without “Phước”‘s team calls, G2 played disconnected and lacked passion, while the core players had aged and showed a noticeable decline when facing the talented young players of the LEC, with Wunder’s recent “beating” by FNC’s rookie Adam being an example.
Anyway, the 2021 World Championship will lose some of its appeal without G2, and we will have to wait for a strong comeback from these clowns next year.