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G2 Esports have once again cemented their dominance in the League of Legends EMEA region by claiming their 17th regional title and the first-ever LEC Grand Slam.
This unprecedented achievement saw them win the Winter, Spring, Summer Splits, and the Season Finals in a single year, a feat never before accomplished in the region.
G2’s latest victory came in the LEC Season Finals, where they defeated their historic rivals, Fnatic, 3-1 in the grand final held at Munich’s Olympic Hall.
🏆 @G2LEAGUE ARE THE 2024 #LEC SEASON CHAMPIONS! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/E1l0NpqHoF
— LEC (@LEC) September 1, 2024
The road to the grand final wasn’t smooth for G2, as they were sent to the lower bracket after a surprising loss to MAD Lions KOI in the first round of playoffs.
However, G2 showcased their resilience, battling their way back by defeating GiantX, narrowly avoiding elimination against Team BDS, and avenging their earlier defeat by beating MAD KOI to secure a spot in the final.
In the grand final, Fnatic, the winners of the upper bracket, put up a strong fight.
The first game of the series was the longest match of the split and the longest ever between the two rivals, with G2 narrowly securing the win.
Although Fnatic bounced back in game two with a convincing victory, G2 quickly dashed any hopes of a five-game series by winning the next two games, sealing the series and their 17th regional title.
This victory marks G2’s fourth European League of Legends trophy of 2024, and the rivalry between G2 and Fnatic, nearly a decade old, once again delivered an intense and entertaining series for fans.
However, Fnatic, once the dominant force in the European League, remains far from reclaiming its former glory, with their last title dating back to 2018 before the LEC rebranding.
G2’s dominance this year also serves as a preview of what they might bring to the 2024 World Championship, set to begin in less than a month in Berlin.
Both G2 and Fnatic have qualified for the World Championship, with MAD Lions KOI also progressing to the play-ins.
Worlds will take place across Europe, with the grand final set for the O2 Arena in London.
G2’s players and staff expressed their pride and relief after the win.
Your #LEC Grand Finals MVP: @Hanssama! pic.twitter.com/z9AVszQc8Y
— LEC (@LEC) September 1, 2024
Rasmus “Caps” Borregaard Winther, G2’s mid-laner, thanked the fans for their support, while Steve “Hans Sama” Liv, who earned the finals MVP, expressed his determination to continue improving.
Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle, G2’s support, acknowledged the pressure but emphasised the team’s confidence going into the international stage.
Assistant coach Christopher “Duffman” Duff highlighted the team’s focus on raising their floor rather than reaching a ceiling, a strategy that paid off throughout the year.
Fnatic, on the other hand, continues to grapple with their shortcomings.
Fnatic founder and CEO Sam Mathews acknowledged the disappointment of finishing second to G2 once again but emphasised the importance of preparing for Worlds.
The grand final between G2 and Fnatic was a riveting back-and-forth series, with the first game lasting 51 minutes and 20 seconds, setting a record for the longest game of the year in the LEC.
With the conclusion of the LEC Season Finals, the 2024 LEC season comes to an end, and all eyes now turn to Berlin as the world’s best teams prepare for the biggest event of the year—Worlds 2024.
