As a player on the EU West (EUW) server and a fan of the European League of Legends scene, I am proud to support the EU teams in their journey at Worlds 2015. Even though all the teams have been eliminated from the tournament, they have performed exceptionally well and deserve recognition.
H2K:
H2K did not make it out of the group stage, but they did not under-perform. Going into the tournament, we did not have high expectations for this team. They looked good, but not good enough. Their group included strong teams like SKTelecom T1 and Edward Gaming, making it even more challenging for them. H2K relied on their strong laning phase to gain an advantage, but against players like MaRin and Bang, it was difficult. They lacked decisiveness in playing around the map and often seemed lost. Despite this, H2K managed to win games against the Bangkok Titans and finish in third place. This is impressive considering they were playing on an international level for the first time and only became a part of the EU LCS a year ago.
Origen:
Origen had a successful split and exceeded expectations at Worlds. Their 3-0 record in the first week showed their strong form. Xpeke, the team captain, proved doubters wrong by performing well against top mid laners. He also made impressive calls around objectives. The team’s map control is extraordinary and they often outsmart their opponents. sOAZ, the former Fnatic top laner, has shown immense growth and versatility in champion picks. Niels, the rookie AD carry, has consistently performed well and shown no signs of succumbing to pressure. If he continues to play like this, he has the potential to become even better.
Fnatic:
Fnatic is, in my opinion, the best team to come out of the EU scene. Every player and their coach, Deilor, are always on the same page. They have a flexible play style and can adapt as the game progresses. Their map control and vision are outstanding. Fnatic’s early game is the best among the remaining teams in the tournament. They consistently secured first blood in every game until they faced KOO Tigers. None of the lanes on this team are weak. Febiven, the mid laner, has been the best and most consistent mid laner of the whole tournament. Despite their lack of experience, Fnatic couldn’t perform under pressure and were convincingly swept by KOO Tigers.
In conclusion, the EU teams may have been eliminated from Worlds, but they have shown great performance and deserve praise. Europe is the second-best region at the World Championship this year. It will be interesting to see how the teams can improve for next year.