EU Hopes for Worlds 2024 as the LEC Fights on Home Soil
| Tags: League of Legends
| Author Paul G
All three LEC reps qualified for the Worlds 2024 main event in Germany, so we're looking at what makes these EMEA rosters a threat on the Swiss stage.
G2 Esports, Fnatic and MAD Lions KOI will represent the LEC on the Main Stage in Germany.
The EMEA reps have had big moments this season. Besides G2 solidifying their #1 spot in the region, MDK's underdog Winter run and Fnatic's recent upswing puts them in the strongest position to take the trophy after nearly half a decade.
With the conclusion of Play-Ins, all three LEC bets will participate in the main stage of Worlds 2024. Here's what they're bringing to the table.
Contents
G2 Esports Worlds 2024 Preview – How the Kings Stack up
G2 Esports has won every single tournament in the LEC this year, besting revitalized legends, promising rosters and old rivals through their ever-evolving playstyle.
Steven “Hans Sama” Liv continues to be the tip of the spear that everybody protects, including the venerable Rasmus “Caps” Winther. Dubbed “Baby Faker” for his spot-on playmaking, Winther has been with G2 since their glory days and is the roster's leader on the Rift. Together, they smartly outmaneuver opponents to get early leads or force opponents to commit misplays that they capitalize on.
Despite the EU champs falling to the usual suspects in the LPL, we think that their sharpness together with their opponent region's handicapped rosters will boost their chances of reaching the Semifinals.
G2's legendary 2019 season saw them almost take every domestic and international trophy in the game. Since then, it's become the golden standard that every showing abroad has been measured against. And it's up to Caps and Co. to bring it back home.
G2 Esports Roster
- Sergen “BrokenBlade” Çelik
- Martin “Yike” Sundelin
- Rasmus “Caps” Winther
- Steven “Hans Sama” Liv
- Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle
Fnatic Worlds 2024 Preview – Legends Never Die
If sheer improvement was a stat in the LEC, Fnatic would sit at the top.
The black-and-orange roster picked themselves up after a shaky 2023 start. But after the introduction of Support player Yoon “Jun” Se-jun, Fnatic had a major return to form.
As a team, they hit the ground running from Winter and confidently placed 2nd in the Spring Playoffs next to G2 themselves. But they didn't stop there.
After getting into the top eight teams at both MSI 2024 and the inaugural Esports World Cup, Humanoid and Co. clinched two more silver medals domestically, cementing their Seed#2 spot at Worlds.
If there's one thing Fnatic proved in their el clasico with G2, it's that they stand on equal ground with the best in the region. Oscarinin's shocking plays and Jun's presence give them the engine to turn any fight around. So expect Fnatic to take the fight to the Knockout Stage.
Fnatic Roster
- Óscar “Oscarinin” Jiménez
- Iván “Razork” Martín Díaz
- Marek “Humanoid” Brázda
- Oh “Noah” Hyeon-taek
- Adrian “Trymbi” Trybus
MAD Lions KOI Worlds 2024 Preview – Fierce as Ever
MAD Lions KOI emerged relatively unscathed from the Play-Ins bracket after a back-to-back win against PSG Talon and Vikings. But while their fast qualification for Swiss was impressive, things are only going to get harder from here.
Jungler Javier “Elyoya” Batalla took his newly-formed team to the heights back in Winter, but they've staggered into the bottom placements since then. That said, the Lions' signature ferocity in their plays often lets them get the jump on their foes.
While they may not be the LEC's strongest hope for winning back the Worlds cup, MDK has surprised us before, so expect at least one major upset from Elyoya and Co. before they leave the standings.
MAD Lions KOI Roster
- Alex “Myrwn” Villarejo
- Javier “Elyoya” Batalla
- Bartłomiej “Fresskowy” Przewoźnik
- David “Supa” García
- Álvaro “Alvaro” del Amo
Conclusion
As ever, the LEC's best chances at a Worlds trophy lie in G2 Esports. It's been months since they last lost a Gold medal in their home court. And since then, they've risen as the best in EMEA.
But regions like the LCK and LPL operate on a whole other level. So if the Kings fall before the semifinals (and that's a big “if”), it's good to know that they can pass the baton over to Fnatic, an org that's seen tremendous growth over the past year.