G2’s Disappointing Performance at Worlds 2024
After the Swiss stage of Worlds 2024 concluded, the LEC region seems to be the most disappointing for viewers. Especially G2 Esports, who were eliminated with a 2-3 record despite being the top hope for the LEC region. Besides the professional factors, the real “bad luck” has truly haunted G2 at Worlds 2024. It’s important to note that in the recent Swiss stage, the draw pitted G2 against many formidable opponents such as HLE, T1, and BLG, and they couldn’t overcome this “ultimate challenge”.
Unfortunately, this marks the second consecutive Worlds where G2 has been eliminated right from the Swiss stage. In fact, since the Swiss format has been implemented, no LEC representative has advanced past this stage. As a result, the playoffs of Worlds have almost become a battleground for representatives from the LCK and LPL. This is indeed a very alarming outcome for the LEC region as their performance has continuously “plummeted” in recent years.
TheShy Fears LoL Will “Wither Away” in the West After Worlds 2024
It’s worth noting that Worlds 2024 is being held in Europe, which is considered the home ground for LEC representatives. Clearly, no matter how much they love the LCK and LPL teams, the interest of European audiences in this year’s Worlds will decline when all local representatives are eliminated as noted. Even for a player not participating in the tournament like TheShy, he can clearly feel this after witnessing G2’s elimination. In fact, the former “Top god” is worried that LoL will face a “slow death” in the West after this tournament.
“To be honest, I really want Western teams to have enough appeal to get through the Swiss stage. It would be terrible if 4 LCK teams faced 4 LPL teams in the Quarterfinals, I really don’t want to see that at all. I’m worried that LoL will slowly fade away, even becoming a “dead game” in the West if their performance continues to decline like this. If nobody cares about LoL in the West, then our game is truly in danger. I hope that doesn’t happen” – TheShy shared during a live stream.
In fact, TheShy’s concern about 4 LCK teams facing 4 LPL teams hasn’t occurred as the LCS representative – FlyQuest has made it through the Swiss stage. However, in terms of reputation, this team is clearly lacking compared to G2 or even FNC in Europe, the host of Worlds 2024. In fact, many people consider FlyQuest to be a “filler team” in the Quarterfinals when facing Gen.G. As a result, this team is unlikely to generate much excitement or at least some hope from the audience in their upcoming match at Worlds 2024.
Fairly speaking, LoL still has a very large number of fans and loyal players in the West. Therefore, the interest of the gaming community in this game will be hard to drop suddenly in a short time just because of the declining performance of the teams here, as TheShy fears. However, the continuous “plummet” in results in recent years has indeed sounded alarm bells for regions like the LEC or LCS. These leagues need significant changes to strengthen their representatives rather than just playing the role of “filler teams” in international tournaments.