A new dynasty in the making. This Sunday, Karmine Corp did the irreparable by ousting the team that had won all four LEC Splits in 2024: G2 Esports. With three masterfully conducted games – during which KC never had side selection – the Blue Wall snatched the Samurai’s head and the crown that adorned it (3-0). With this new burden, the French organization will travel to First Stand to represent the entire region. Now, Karmine Corp are not only the French but also the European League of Legends champions of Winter.

Karmine Corp flipped the script entirely to seize G2’s LEC crown

Vladi MVP, Yike was not the Problem

Last week, G2 had beaten KC in a BO5 that left little room for doubt (3-1). However, it seems like it wasn’t the same team that came up against them this Sunday. Karmine Corp had already secured two consecutive games over Fnatic the day before. Eventually, KC showed there was ice in their veins by coming close to getting a reverse sweep before denying it with a stomp in game 5. But for the Grand Final, only one team showed up on the Summoner’s Rift. A clear-cut, uncompromising 3-0 victory. Karmine Corp simply seemed to have all the answers in draft, unlike last week when the G2 coach Dylan Falco boasted of having produced a BO with the most one-sided drafts ever. This time, KC was far better armed.

KC Vladi, your Winter Finals MVP
Image Credit: @LEC

Rasmus “Caps” Winther didn’t live up to his standards, far from it. Facing him was Vladimiros “Vladi” Kourtidis, who rose through the ladder via the European GOAT’s long-time runner-up: Marek “Humanoid” Brazda. Not only was Vladi voted Player of the Series against Fnatic, but he was also named MVP of the final against Caps after literally gapping at him over the three games. I personally voted for him, as did 81% of the participants (journalists and broadcasts). There’s no doubt about it anymore, the Greek player was the best midlaner in the league this Winter. And it was in particular his duo with the former Samurai that shone this weekend. Martin “Yike” Sundelin was also uncompromising with his ex, particularly when it came to smite duels. The Swede tirelessly pressed a midlane that seems weakened since his departure… As if to prove to Caps that he needed him more than the other way around.

In general, the KC topside was resplendent with Kim “Canna” Chang-dong finally back to his strong side champions, and unlike last week, the bot stabilized and never took on water early on. What impressed me personally was the discipline and rigor with which this young team operated. Never a step too far, whether against Fnatic or G2, they made their supposedly experienced opponents look like the rookies.

The Wake-Up call for EU?

However, the team was not expected to reach such heights so soon. The core of the team was formed last year, when the organization had just obtained its slot in the Old Continent’s biggest league, after two disappointing failures (10th in Winter and Spring). This was when the Korean toplaner Canna decided to land in the LEC after notably being stripped of his toplaner slot at T1 by a promising rookie who was little known at the time: Choi “Zeus” Woo-je. In the midlane, Vladi was promoted from the academy team after winning the LFL and joined the sole survivor of the first roster’s disappointing iteration: Raphaël “Targamas” Crabbé.

With a much more convincing performance and a top 4 finish in Summer, the team seemed well on the way to building a bright future… A bright future was also in store for Caliste “Caliste” Henry-hennebert. He had been forced to wait and see after a perfect LFL season in Summer 2023, followed by disillusionment with the introduction of a rule preventing players under 18 from competing in the LEC. But at the end of 2024, Caliste turned 18 and his first steps in the league were awaited by the whole of Europe. Heralded as the most eagerly awaited rookie since Martin “Rekkles” Larsson. Then came a small miracle. After yet another disappointment at Worlds, G2 Esports needed to change the dynamic and decided to part ways with their jungler Yike. He was still hungry for a title and joined the KC team, despite a more attractive salary offer from GIANTX. Probably believing that it was with an all-blue jersey that he would have the best chance of proving he was not the problem.

If everyone expected this team to show great promise but to need time and confidence, they proved that time is running short. Young as they are, their eyes are already on the world beyond their region. Their shared dream is not limited to winning the LEC, and with this victory they may have just rang the wake-up call for Europe. If the revolution is on the march, it’s with the Karmine Corp banner in the forefront. Paint the world Blue, because their Wall is rising.