2018 League of Legends World Championship: Fnatic’s Unfortunate Defeat Against Invictus Gaming
The long-awaited conclusion of the 2018 League of Legends World Championship has arrived, and fans are celebrating with Riot’s catchy new pop anthem POP/STARS. However, amidst the excitement, we can’t help but feel disappointed with the final three games of the tournament. In an unexpected turn of events, China’s Invictus Gaming (IG) crushed Europe’s Fnatic, leaving them with no chance of victory. While it was an exhilarating three games for China, the match became boring to watch.
So, what went wrong? This series was expected to be highly competitive, but it turned out to be a one-sided affair, reminiscent of SK Telecom T1 vs. Royal Club from 2013. Did IG perform exceptionally well, or did Fnatic simply falter? The truth lies somewhere in between. IG played remarkably, but Fnatic also played poorly, and we have a theory as to why.
Fnatic’s Dominance Leading to Worlds
Before their defeat, Fnatic showcased their unbeatable skills throughout the World Championship. They topped their group, and convincingly won 3-1 and 3-0 in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. It is worth mentioning that Fnatic had won two out of three games against IG during the group stage.
Invictus Gaming’s Strategy
Both IG and Fnatic had different gameplay styles, from IG’s group stage play to EDG’s teamfight-oriented compositions and Cloud9’s unique strategies. However, the only style that Fnatic couldn’t conquer was their own, and that’s exactly what Invictus Gaming capitalized on.
We must highlight two key areas in which IG excelled against Fnatic. Both their jungler Gao “Ning” Zhen-Ning and bot lane carry Yu “JackeyLove” Wen-Bo, who were expected to be inferior to their Fnatic counterparts, performed exceptionally well. Fnatic’s jungler Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen was known for picking a lane, dominating it, and snowballing it to carry the game. Ning executed the same strategy, and just like Fnatic relied on Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, JackeyLove became the carry for Invictus Gaming.
Moreover, IG’s top laner Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok and mid laner Song “Rookie” Eui-jin were superior to their Fnatic counterparts Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau and Rasmus “Caps” Winther. Despite Bwipo and Caps having a successful 2018 season, TheShy and Rookie outperformed them. When Ning chose a lane to focus on, whether top, mid, or bot, IG capitalized on it and used the advantage to dominate the rest of the map, surpassing Fnatic’s previous achievements.
Fnatic’s Demoralization and Defeat
In the first and second games, Ning ganked Caps and Bwipo, shutting them down early on and preventing them from carrying the game. Meanwhile, TheShy wreaked havoc in other lanes. Fnatic’s jungler, Broxah, couldn’t find a solution, and JackeyLove prevented Rekkles from making a comeback. By the third game, Fnatic appeared demoralized and defeated. Every lane was losing, except for substitute top laner Paul “sOAZ” Boyer, who was still behind in farm. Fnatic lost at their own game, and they seemed unable to cope with it.
The Silver Lining for EU LCS Fans
For EU LCS fans, it’s understandable that you may feel disappointed. Fnatic came so close to winning their first Worlds title since season one. Nevertheless, hold your heads high, as this is the closest Fnatic has come in a long time. Besides, IG’s victory was nothing short of extraordinary, especially since they became China’s first world champions. Let’s appreciate the success of an incredible team and celebrate the end of the Korean domination in the World Championship.
As we look towards the future, anything can happen. Fnatic may make a comeback, China might defend their title, or we might witness the return of the legendary Demon King himself. It’s an exciting time to be a League of Legends esports fan, so let’s welcome the upcoming 2019 season with enthusiasm.
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