In a nerve-wracking duel against the MAD Lions, G2 and Sergen ‘Brokenblade’ Celik put in a strong performance. They reached the LEC final with a commanding 3:1 – and thus secured their ticket to the World Championships
The fans of both teams created a great atmosphere even before the game started. The G2 colors clearly dominated the scene in the Olympic Hall in Munich. No wonder, since G2 is considered the favorite – and they lived up to their role.
Right at the start, they lured the MAD Lions into a clever trap. An early Gwen was pushed into the Jungle at the last second and replaced by Renekton. Without resistance, the first dragon went to G2’s account. But the lions came back with clever macro play and a perfectly timed dive on ‘Brokenblade’. G2’s strategy began to falter – and two uncoordinated team fights did the rest. In the end, the MAD Lions took a 1:0 lead
But G2 didn’t let that get to them. They landed a decisive dive on the bot lane to open round two and got the first kill. From then on, the Berlin-based organization dominated the game, securing all objectives and teamfights and punishing the MAD Lions for their lack of frontline with the 1:1 draw
G2 closes the deal
Strengthened by the equalizer, G2 took control and secured all six voidgrubs in the following round. Although the first two dragons fell to the MAD Lions, G2 nipped their hopes of an early dragon soul in the bud shortly afterwards. With a Baron in their pocket, they left the next dragon to the MAD Lions, instead tearing down the Inhibitors and ending the game shortly afterwards.
G2 carried the momentum into the fourth game. An early first blood for AD Carry Steven ‘Hans Sama’ Liv set the pace. The MAD Lions’ attempts to counter in a cross-map play against ‘Brokenblade’ failed. The German remained unimpressed. He and his team dominated the map from then on, while the MAD Lions struggled to stop the Baron. But ‘Hans Samas’ Jhin once again made short work of the opposing team and secured G2’s place in the final
‘Brokenblade’: “We played much better ”
In an interview with eSport, ‘BrokenBlade’ was visibly satisfied: “We played much better this time. In the last few games, we were often caught and lost, but not this time.” He explained that they had prepared well in scrims and developed a strategy against the MAD Lions. “In the last game, they came to me so often on the top lane, I thought they wanted a signing. That’s when I knew it was going our way.”
The MAD Lions finished the tournament in third place. Supporter Alvaro ‘Alvaro’ Fernandez del Amo admitted: “We could have done a few things much better.” Despite the elimination shortly before the final, however, the team is proud of the progress it has made and is looking forward to the upcoming World Championships. The MAD Lions could still qualify through a play-in tournament.
