Welcome to EGamersWorld.
Slowly but surely we are getting closer to the end of the first round of Play-In Mid-Season Invitational 2024. Let me remind you that during this stage 8 teams will determine the 4 clubs that will make it to the so-called Bracket Stage, i.e. the main event.
Among the contenders are GAM Esports and Fnatic. Both teams have a chance to advance to the next round from the second place (TES is much more likely to take the top spot in Group B), and therefore their face-to-face match will decide a lot.
Let's find out which team will be stronger and will advance to the next round, where they will play with the winner of the TES - LOUD pair, and who will fall into the losers' net.
Let's go.
Fnatic Form
We open the match with the analysis of the game form of LEC residents - Fnatic. In this match, the second syd of Europe plays the first number one.
Fnatic started their ascent to the LEC Regional Finals last season with an appearance at LEC Winter 2023. It wasn't a successful one, as the Orange finished in 9th place and didn't make it out of the group stage.
The following season, Fnatic gave one last chance to roster with Rekkles. They failed to use it, as FNC, after coming out of the group stage, lost in their first match against MAD Lions, thus ending the spring split at the top 8.
- Fnatic lineup: Oscarinin, Razork, Humanoid, Noah, Jon.
Two terrible splits resulted in major re-splits. ADC Rekkles and support Advienne left the band. In their place came Korean legionnaire Noah and experienced support Trymbi. The result was not long in coming.
Fnatic looked much better at the LEC summer split than at the two previous ones. The team managed to make it through the group stage and then made it to the top 3 of LEC Summer 2023, which allowed them to advance to the regional finals. Here's the truth, to the bottom set.
Fnatic played against Excel - the main opener of LEC Summer 2023 - in the match to advance to the Top 4 and won. They won 3-2 in a tense bo5.
In the match for the LEC Finals 2023 Small Final, Fnatic and BDS had a real fight (3-2), and Fnatic ended up here.
They also managed to beat MAD Lions, with whom they played for a place in the grand final. And again, the full-fledged bo5 with a score of 3-2 in favour of the Orange. But the grand final was not enough: G2 Esports beat Fnatic 3-1.
At Worlds 2023, Orange played to the best of their ability. The club lost the first match against LNG Esports, and then outplayed the Vietnamese from GAM Esports.
The last match on the way to a 1-2 set was a match against BLG, which Fnatic legitimately lost. Then FNC defeated C9 with a score of 2-1, and in the match for play-offs Ledge and WBG. The latter, by the way, became the vice-champion of the World Championship, so the result for the European club was excellent.
Fnatic will debut at LEC Winter 2024 with a match against Karmine Corp. Based on the experience of previous seasons, there is every chance to see the favourite (which is Fnatic) lose in that match. Next, they will face Vitality and this is where I would bet in favour of the Orange. That's pretty much how it turned out, except for the match against Karmine Corp: Fnatic closed two series, but lost in the match against SK Gaming.
Fnatic had a pretty good start to the regular season, but it got worse from there. Fnatic finished the regular season with a score of 5-4. The LEC Winter 2024 playoffs "Orange Longsong" with a very confident victory against MAD Lions. Next, Fnatic played against G2 Esports and looked good there, even managing to snatch the map, which no one has managed to do so far.
In the match for the quarter-finals Fnatic met with SK Gaming. The German club put up a fight, but Fnatic were stronger: 2-1 in favour of Humanoid and company guaranteed their passage to the top 4 of LEC Winter 2024.
In the next match, Fnatic were able to fight G2 Esports and take the map away from them, but they were unable to surpass the Samurai in the match. Fnatic also failed to get a chance to continue their participation in the tournament in the lower grid, where Fnatic lost to MAD Lions KOI with a score of 2-3. At the end of LEC Winter 2024, Fnatic finished in the top 4.
LEC Spring 2024 Fnatic finished the LEC Spring 2024 regular season in the top spot, something the team hasn't had since 2019. In the first round of the play-offs, Fnatic shut out GIANTX on a classy basis. In the match to advance to the upper grid finals, LEC Spring 2024 faced G2 and lost 0-2 without a chance. In the lower grid, they also had difficulties, like in the game against Heretics, but in the end they were able to defeat their counterparts with a score of 2-1 and move on. In the match for the top 3, Fnatic met Vitality and confidently ran them over with a score of 3-1.
For the grand final of LEC Spring 2024 Fnatic fought against BDS and it was a real spectacle: the "orange" were 0-2 down, but on the character made a reverse sweep and closed the series in their favour. As a result, Fnatic will also go to MSI 2024. In the grand finals of LEC Spring 2024 Orange played against G2 Esports and lost that match.
Fnatic's most popular champions
Jax (3 matches, 33% wins), Gwen (2 matches, 50% wins), Gangplank (2 matches, 50% wins), Jayce (2 games, 50% wins) are on the top line.
In the woods, Maokai (7 matches, 42% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 25% wins), Vi (3 games, 66% wins) were permanent.
The centre line was most often occupied by Sylas (5 matches, 40% wins), Ryze (3 games, 100% wins), Akali (2 games, 0 wins).
Zeri and Sivir peaked equally often on the shooter position. Both heroes appeared 4 times, but the former won all his games, and the latter - none.
Ashe appeared most often amongst the Spurrots. Archer was chosen 5 times and won 2 matches. Yuumi (4 matches, 75% wins), Heimerdinger (4 matches, 25% wins) were also frequently played.
GAM Esports uniforms
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of GAM Esports form. In this match they play as a number two with a small gap.
GAM Esports is one of the most titled teams in Vietnam with 5 wins in regional splits and several top 2 home league titles. At the last event, VCS Dawn 2023, GAM Esports had a very strong run in the play-offs, winning the group 14-0 in the series. GAM played well in the play-offs itself, giving up a total of 4 maps in 3 series.
Vietnam (VCS) - My region with an asterisk. Teams from there are capable of putting up a fight against the world's top League of Legends clubs, as demonstrated by GAM Esports during Worlds 2017, 2019, and even at Worlds 2022.
The peak of performance on the international stage remains 2017. That's when GAM Esports finished in the top 6 at the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational.
To repeat the success of 2017, it is mandatory to beat Rainbow7 in the upcoming confrontation. Everything seems to be in place for that to happen.
- GAM Esports lineup: Kiaya, Levi, Emo, EasyLove, Elio.
GAM has top performers by VCS standards, which is confirmed by the club's performance at home. However, they didn't help GAM to beat a more titled opponent, namely Golden Guardians, with whom GAM played in the first round of Play-In MSI 2023 and lost without much chance.
All in all, MSI 2023 ended very badly for GAM Esports. After losing in the first round, the Vietnamese unexpectedly defeated Rainbow7 in the first round of the lower grid, and therefore ignominiously left the championship at the Top 12.
The team made it to Worlds 2023 thanks to a win at the home VCS Dusk 2023. In the grand finals they easily beat Team Whales with a score of 3-1.
In the debut match at Worlds 2023 Gam Esports played against LOUD. The Brazilians proved to be stronger, although GAM put up a fight. The match ended with a score of 0-2 not in favour of GAM.
In the previous round GAM defeated Rainbow7. They defeated them on class (2-0), without giving space on any of the maps.
In the previous match, GAM Esports played against the titular Brazilians LOUD. Being the underdogs they showed class and closed the series with a 2-0 score, sending one of the favourites of the Play-In stage home.
In the match to advance to the Worlds 2023 group stage, GAM Esports played against their regional counterparts from Team Whales. They closed the series 3-1 on the experience, thus becoming the first team at Worlds 2023 to make it past the Play-In stage.
Having met all the challenges of the Play-In, GAM Esports travelled to the group stage. The first opponent of GAM Esports was Gen.G, and then Fnatic. In general, there are no questions about the first game, but Fnatic could fight, but it didn't work out.
Being one step away from elimination GAM Esports showed a very spirited game in the match against Liquid. The North American team managed to take one card, but no more than that. However, GAM did not last long: in the next match the club faced the titular representative of Korea, the team Dplus and, losing with a score of 0-2, left Worlds 2023.
In the 14th season of LoL, GAM triumphed at VCS Spring 2024.
GAM Esports' most popular champions
Aatrox (3 matches, 100% wins) and Renekton (3 matches, 66% wins) are the most frequently sent to the top line.
Sejuani (3 matches, 100% winrate) and Lee Sin (3 matches, 66% wins) are the most frequently played among the foresters.
Ahri/Jayce (7 games, 85% win rate) is the centre line.
Among shooters, Kaisa/Xayah (6 matches, 50% wins) are favoured.
And the familiar Nautilus (8 matches, 75% wins) is in the backcourt.
History of head-to-head meetings
Previously, the teams played each other at Worlds 2023. Then GAM won.
Predicted result of GAM Esports vs Fnatic at Mid-Season Invitational 2024 (MSI 2024)
In this match I expect a roughly equal game. Both teams can show quality League of Legends and I think they will do so. If we talk about the winner, I still see Fnatic as the winner.
Bottom line: Fnatic wins.
