No League of Legends team has been more consistent in delivering disappointment to their region than Europe’s G2 eSports, not even Team SoloMid. Continuously billed as EU’s top seed, IEM Katowice aside, G2 are yet to deliver a single satisfying result on the international stage. Their tournament failures could be accepted as poor fortune however, had it not been for the number of teeth-grinding moments that have led to the majority of European fans loathing the organisation.
After the disgrace of the 2016 Mid-Season Invitational and the embarrassment of the following World Championship, G2 eSports had a lot of work to do if they were to rebuild their tarnished reputation. The Intel Extreme Masters in Katowice provided an opportunity for the reigning EU LCS champions to re-establish some credibility internationally. After NA’s top seed Cloud9 pulled out of the competition, followed late in the day by China’s Edward Gaming, the event was G2’s best opportunity to get their hands on international silverware.
Source: ESL
Having not lost a domestic EU LCS series in over a year, the odds were heavily stacked in G2 eSports’ favour as they entered their first game against Taiwan’s Flash Wolves. The Flash Wolves proved too strong for the EU LCS champions, both in the opening game and the subsequent tournament final. IEM Katowice served to recover some ground for the G2 brand, but European fans were not left fully satisfied.
After yet another dominant – but perhaps more poignantly – humble split from G2 eSports in the EU LCS Spring, G2 head into the Mid-Season Invitational with their reputation in the strongest state it has been in since their embarrassing episode at the Shanghai event almost 12 months ago.
It has taken almost a year, but Europe’s pantomime villains have swayed the general consensus of public opinion with consistent strong performances throughout the split. That’s not to say that these moments won’t come rushing back to European fans should G2 eSports embarrass the region internationally once again:
8 Moments G2 eSports Are Desperate For European Fans To Forget
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G2-8: Mid-Season Invitational
After dominating throughout their first competitive EU LCS split, G2 eSports crashed out of MSI with a meme-worthy 2-8 record.
PerkZ: “We went on vacation”
Source: lolesports
Vacation is Over
Opting to embrace their very own vacation memes, G2 released a tongue-in-cheek promotional video for the split titled: "Vacation is over". Meanwhile the European region came to terms with their second tier seeding for the World Championship.
G2 Pick Up Zven and Mithy
Dubbed as the strongest bot lane duo in the region, G2 eSports picked up Zven and Mithy from fan favourites, Origen. The move was later revealed to have decimated the OG roster, who were left with little time to find replacements.
G2 Continue To Dominate EU LCS
Despite their unfavourable reputation, G2 eSports continued to demolish the competition in the EU LCS. Adopting a bad-boy persona, the roster won the Summer Split with ease and secured Worlds qualification... everyone knew how that would end.
Perkz Spells “Vacation” At Worlds
As G2 eSports took to the international stage for the opening fixture of the World Championship, all eyes were on the team to step up and redeem themselves. Analysts predicted G2 to be potential semi-finalists ahead of their first game with NA's Counter Logic Gaming. PerkZ didn't seem to be taking the game all too seriously however, spelling out "V-A-C-A-T..." with his champion hovers during picks and bans. At least he found it funny.
PerkZ Flare Flash
The NA vs EU narrative didn't follow the predicted script. CLG, the NA LCS' 4th placed team steamrolled the European champions. As G2 crumbled in their final team fight, PerkZ rubbed salt in the wounds of the European fanbase, flashing his team logo as he stood helpless waiting for death and defeat.
G2 At IEM Katowice
The Intel Extreme Katowice initially looked set to be another embarrassing episode for G2 eSports internationally. After losing in their opening match to Taiwan's Flash Wolves, G2 recovered to reach the finals where they fell to FW once more.
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