Semifinal Match: SK Telecom T1 vs Fnatic
In one of the biggest League of Legends tournaments of the year, SK Telecom T1 faced Fnatic in the semifinal match. SK Telecom T1, known for their dominance against Western teams, were confident heading into the match. However, Fnatic put up a strong fight, trading games with the Korean powerhouses and forcing a hard-fought fifth game in the series.
Fnatic’s Rise as an International Challenger
At the Mid-Season Invitational, Fnatic proved that they could compete with the best Korean teams in the game. Encouraged by their performance, Fnatic made a move to further improve their team and prove themselves on an international stage.
“Before the summer split started, we requested a change of our ADC in order to perform better as a team as fast as possible,” Fnatic’s support, Bora “YellOwStAr” Kim told the Daily Dot. “We got criticized at first, but I was confident enough to say ‘wait and see.’”
Facing Roster Changes
Before the 2015 season, Fnatic lost most of their squad, including star player Martin “Rekkles” Larsson. They rebuilt the team from scratch, reaching out to two players they encountered while competing in South Korea: a jungler named Kim “Reignover” Ui-jin and a top laner, Seong “Huni” Hoon Heo. They also added two European Challenger prospects to the roster.
Larsson’s Return and Fnatic’s Transformation
Larsson, who had previously left the team, rejoined Fnatic and brought with him a potent playstyle that elevated the team’s performance. With Larsson in the lineup, Fnatic became a serious international challenger.
Fnatic’s Strongest Squad
The current Fnatic lineup is considered their strongest squad to date. They have a history of dominating playoffs and have accumulated the most LCS titles in both North America and Europe. This season, they went undefeated during the regular season.
Preparations for the International Stage
Despite their regional success, Fnatic is focused on proving themselves on an international stage. They have historically performed well at international competitions and are determined to make it to Worlds this year.
League of Legends, Fnatic, SK Telecom T1, esports, Mid-Season Invitational, roster changes, international stage, playoffs, dominance, regular season, World Championships