G2 Esports Dominates the LEC: Week 2 Recap
The second week of the 2020 Spring Split in the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) showcased the dominance of G2 Esports. The league leaders convincingly defeated second-place Origen, solidifying their position as the strongest team in Europe.
The question now is how Origen’s tough loss will affect their standing in the power rankings. Currently tied with Fnatic at 3-1, they have yet to face G2 Esports. Our League experts ranked each team on a scale of one to ten to determine their points.
| Rank | Team | Points | Rank Change |
| 1) | G2 Esports | 60 | — |
| 2) | Origen | 54 | — |
| 3) | Fnatic | 48 | — |
| 4) | Rogue | 39 | — |
| 5) | Excel Esports | 37 | — |
| 6) | Misfits | 32 | +3 |
| 7) | Mad Lions | 22 | +1 |
| 8) | SK Gaming | 18 | -1 |
| 9) | FC Schalke 04 | 14 | -3 |
| 10) | Team Vitality | 6 | — |
Despite the loss, Origen maintains its place in our LEC power rankings. Compared to other regions, not much has changed in our rankings after three weeks.
Dropping in the Rankings: SK, Schalke, Vitality
The team with the most significant rank drop is Schalke. Starting the split with high expectations after signing FORG1VEN, they have struggled. Last week’s loss to Fnatic, as expected, was followed by a defeat against Mad Lions. FORG1VEN’s performance in the late game was particularly poor. As a result, Schalke made a roster change by benching their jungler Gilius. While this may not drastically improve their situation, it is a necessary move.
Schalke must acknowledge that surrounding FORG1VEN with underperforming veterans was not a winning strategy. This combination has resulted in their poor start to the split.
The other two teams in this tier, SK and Vitality, may have lost but are experimenting with younger players. While losing is not an excuse, there is hope for improvement in the future.
Showing Improvement: Misfits, Mad Lions
Misfits redeemed themselves after a disastrous opening week with impressive wins against SK and Excel. Their victory against Excel showcased a stronger draft and the ability to come back from a deficit.
Mad Lions also showed promise by making a remarkable comeback against Schalke despite losing their jungler. With a 2-2 record, they continue to climb up the rankings.
Consistent Performers: Rogue, Excel
Both Rogue and Excel maintained their positions by securing important victories last week. Excel defeated Mad Lions and almost defeated Misfits despite a poor draft. Rogue’s loss against Origen was expected, but the individual matchups raised some concerns.
The Top Three: G2, Origen, Fnatic
Fnatic learned from their mistakes and made the right decisions in their match against Schalke. They strategically waited for item breakpoints in the Sett vs. Aatrox matchup and capitalized on it. FORG1VEN’s reunion with Rekkles was spoiled by Fnatic’s bot lane ganks, ending their laning phase early. While Fnatic incorporates their new jungler Selfmade effectively, they still lag behind G2 and Origen.
G2 Esports proved that their choice of top lane Soraka was not a troll pick. Their match against Origen showcased their ability to dominate individual matchups and roam around the map without fear. Origen’s support Destiny had a forgettable game on Rakan, raising doubts about the decision to bring in an older player from the OCE region.
All photos via Riot Games.
esports, LEC, G2 Esports, Origen, Fnatic, power rankings, Schalke, Misfits, Mad Lions, Rogue, Excel