Is this the End of an Era for G2?

While the expectations weren’t probably as high as last year, few expected G2 Esports to be dominated by the North American counterpart FlyQuest at MSI 2025. For a roster that was used to be the #1 Western team in past international tournaments, could this loss mean the end of a cycle for G2?

Things Looked Shaky for G2 from the Start

Coming in as the second seed from Europe, there were some concerns about G2’s form heading into the tournament. Last year, the team was able to finish in the top four but it was clear that this year only a miracle would lead to a similar result.

That being said, the team, which had to go through the play-in stage, was still expected to advance. The series against FURIA, however, made it clear it wasn’t going to be an easy ride: G2 was forced to Silver Scrapes and while their wins in that match looked convincing, it was an alarming sign.

Those signs became clear when facing BLG. Aside from a closer Game 1, G2 was overwhelmed by the LPL #2 seed and never looked in a position to fight back. To fight for the last qualification spot, G2 had to fight Vietnam’s GAM, who forced G2 to five games again, proving that the team was struggling.

Without many expectations against tournament favorites Gen.G in the first round of playoffs, G2 showed glimpses of brilliance, taking the first game of the series. While it wasn’t quite enough, it probably raised the expectations heading into the FlyQuest series.

Unfortunately, the series turned into a nightmare, as the LTA team swept G2 and will keep fighting through the lower bracket. It was a close series, but even when G2 had the advantage, they were never able to push the lead further and close out the game.

The Weaknesses have Emerged at MSI

G2 made changes during the offseason with the hopes of bringing new life to the roster. Yike and Mikyx were replaced by rookie SkewMond and former BDS support Labrov. Both were seen as players with potential, especially the jungler, who was the best in his role in the tier-two scene last year.

Early success wasn’t the big goal for the team as G2 always focused on getting in stronger form around playoffs and international events. Back when Yike first joined G2, he also struggled initially to get used to the new team. The expectations for SkewMond were similar: start out slow but ramp up as the season goes. That, though, hasn’t really happened.

SkewMond was always regarded as a highly efficient player with strong mechanics but during these months in the team, he hasn’t been able to use his own strengths for the team. Often struggling to synergize with Labrov, the difference was clear when G2 faced teams like BLG, Gen.G, and FLY. It’s not necessarily SkewMond’s fault for G2’s downfall, but he wasn’t the one keeping the ship afloat either.

Speaking of Labrov, the support player was, alongside BrokenBlade, the two weakest links at the tournament. While there were some highlight plays, Labrov was more often than not getting caught out of position by the enemy team, which put G2 on the backfoot during teamfights setup. It has become a habit for him, and in the current meta, dying that early is the equivalent of sending it. If he were to maintain that in the next half of the season, it wil will be a tough run for G2 to make it to Worlds.

BrokenBlade’s form at MSI was probably the most surprising thing for me, though. Once considered among the best top in the league, BB looked incredibly off since the start of MSI, to the point where you could argue he was the weakest top laner at the tournament. He struggled in almost every laning phase and even when he was given favorable matchups, he couldn’t overpower his opponent. Compared to the rest of the issues that affect the team’s dynamic, I’m confident that BB can regain at least a bit of form in the coming months and help stabilize the top lane.

When everything is not working out as intended, it’s also normal for the other players to look invisible. Caps was probably the only standout at this tournament, and despite his biggest effort, he wasn’t able to carry his team on his back. Hans Sama also struggled to find his footing, but ADC’s ability to shine is usually dictated by the team’s potential, so he isn’t really in the eye of the storm right now.

Is this already a Failed Season for G2 Esports?

Even though results have been sub-par for G2’s standards, they still have some time before Worlds. The Summer Split will be the test to see if G2 can find a way to work around the issues. Among the priorities, finding a stronger jungle-support synergy is a must, especially if the meta continues to revolve around dragon stacking.

Quick little trip to Vancouver.

Thank you to all the fans for the support 💔 pic.twitter.com/prByhRJnRT

— G2 League of Legends (@G2League) July 4, 2025

While I still think last year’s lineup has a higher ceiling overall, G2 is still a strong team and can pull it together. Making roster changes at this moment in time would be suicidal, in my opinion, and G2 is known for working with lineups yearly, so I doubt there would be major changes on the horizon. Is G2’s era over? Probably not yet. But the clock is ticking, and in a few months’ time, we might have a more definite answer.