Winning LEC from the lower bracket was not enough, they had to dominate NA in MSI 2022 Group Stage also. G2 Esports are here to take Europe on top of League of Legends esports once again, and even if they can’t quite manage it, they look like they are strong enough to make the titans bleed.
During G2’s absence, European League of Legends failed to make their presence felt at international tournaments. Now that they are back, fans believe that G2 might carry the flag on the front and make another MSI or Worlds final just like the good old days. However, there are quite a few claiming that the name G2 Esports isn’t enough to make this roster achieve anything internationally. Let’s have a look at G2 2022, and you can decide for yourself.
G2 Esports shocks LEC
After a year of unimpressive performances, G2 Esports decided to rebuild their roster for 2022. Bringing in a strong top laner from a weak team, Broken Blade, putting Jankos and caPs in the centre, and filling the bot lane with two youngsters with huge potential, Flakked and Targamas, G2 went on a road we haven’t seen them take for years now.
Although G2 was able to take down most of the teams in the LEC, they failed to outpower the best, such as Rogue or Fnatic. They still managed to finish top four, but an early loss in playoffs took G2 to one of the worst positions in the losers bracket. The miracle run started from there, with a 12-0 series, and G2 Esports managed to reach the trophy that they missed for all of 2021 with a “super team”.
Carrying the EU>NA flag for the first time since 2020, G2 got drawn into the group with North American Evil Geniuses and Oceanian ORDER. Defeating both EG and ORDER four times, G2 established their dominance in the group and moved on to the Rumble Stage.
What can G2 manage during the Rumble Stage?
Broken Blade is a strong top laner, with the ability to play weak side and still apply pressure. He fixed the problems Wunder had for G2, and he definitely is one of the winning conditions for G2. He is able to play a wide variety of champions from Gnar to Akshan or Ornn. His 4.1 KDA and 24% damage share in the team is highly valuable.
Probably the best jungler in the history of Western League of Legends, Jankos improved his performance as caPs became better. He is playing any of the champions currently in meta, and is active in the game, leaving the state he was stuck in during 2021.
Although he is criticized sometimes, Flakked is a mechanically-gifted ADC with a lot to offer for his team. He can play any of the champions in bot lane meta and his synergy with Targamas is priceless.
Coming into a tournament which includes Keria, Targamas is definitely not the best playmaker here, but he definitely proved how well he can be during LEC.
Filling Mikyx’s place shouldn’t have been easy, but Targamas does everything Mikyx did and he does it better. Rakan, Pyke, Renata Glasc, Nautilus or enchanters like Lulu, Targamas can play anything and still lead his team to victory with his calls.
caPs
The other four players were great but G2 Esports wouldn't be here if it weren’t for one player, caPs. He was hibernating, and he wasn’t at his peak even during 2020 when G2 were still dominating Europe. Especially after the start of the playoffs, caPs has been playing amazingly, reminding us of the caPs we know and love from Fnatic 2018 and G2 2019. With the new roster, he is definitely in a better state mentally and that affects his game.
caPs played Ahri, the meta queen, the most this year 7 times and accumulated a 5.2 KDA and 71.4% win rate with her. He also played one of his special champions, Sylas, in MSI 2022 too. He deals 26.5% of his team’s damage, has a 4.7 KDA overall and 67.1% kill participation.
Until you can stop caPs somehow, by being better than him or catching him on a bad day, you won’t be able to stop G2 Esports.
G2’s MSI 2022 Rumble Stage schedule
After their successful group stage run, G2 has their eyes on the rumble stage now. They will face each of the five teams twice. They will have the opportunity to take their revenge against Saigon Buffalo, and establish their dominance another time against T1. Check out their schedule below:
May 20, Friday
T1 (1.20) vs G2 Esports (4.00) - 10:00 CEST
G2 Esports (2.90) vs RNG (1.35) - 13:00 CEST
May 21, Saturday
G2 Esports (1.28) vs Evil Geniuses (3.40) - 10:00 CEST
Saigon Buffalo (4.20) vs G2 Esports (1.20) - 15:00 CEST
May 22, Sunday
G2 Esports (1.30) vs PSG Talon (3.20) - 11:00 CEST
RNG vs G2 Esports - 14:00 CEST
May 23, Monday
PSG Talon vs G2 Esports - 10:00 CEST
G2 Esports vs T1 - 13:00 CEST
May 24, Tuesday
G2 Esports vs Saigon Buffalo - 08:00 CEST
Evil Geniuses vs G2 Esports - 12:00 CEST
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