Worlds 2025: LEC Teams Preview – Europe in Need of Hope

Europe could really use a spark of hope right now. After two years filled with disappointment at Worlds 2025, the LEC is once again sending its best to try and break into the playoffs of the most prestigious tournament of the year. Expectations, however, remain modest — no European team has even reached that stage since Rogue back in 2022. Could this finally be the year that changes?

For a while, all the ingredients for success seemed to be there. G2 had been ruling the regional scene with an iron grip, only to crumble in the Swiss Stage — first in 2023, unexpectedly against NRG, and then again in 2024, this time with a bit of bad luck in the draw. Still, there have been encouraging signs: Karmine Corp’s impressive run to the First Stand final, and G2’s fourth-place finish at the Esports World Cup, where they finally looked like themselves again.

G2 Esports – A Different Kind of Momentum

This year’s G2 feels very different from the last few iterations. The addition of Labrov and Skewmond has injected new life into the roster — their own trajectory mirrors the team’s: a slow start, followed by a massive surge in performance that culminated in absolute domination of the LEC Summer Split. G2’s season has been full of highs and lows — two losses in finals that perfectly captured their struggle for consistency. The same pattern showed internationally: a shaky MSI that ended with a 0–3 sweep against North America, followed by a much stronger showing at the EWC, where they finally defeated their long-time nemesis BLG (2–1).

Labrov and Skewmond established themselves as the best jungle-support duo in the league this summer, with Skewmond even earning MVP honors after a one-sided 3–0 victory over MKOI in Madrid. Caps and BrokenBlade have rediscovered their form in the current meta, while Hans Sama has made major strides — once criticized for struggling on high-mechanical AD Carries, he’s now proven capable of performing under pressure in late-game fights. All signs point to G2 being Europe’s biggest hope once again. Maybe, after years of early regional dominance followed by collapse at Worlds, this more gradual buildup — peaking at the right time — will finally be the formula that works.

Movistar KOI – To Reach New Heights

While MKOI didn’t seem to hit their stride during the Summer, they still stood out as the clear second-best team in Europe this year. In fact, when they’re at their best, their ceiling might even surpass G2’s. That peak came in Spring, when they beat both Karmine Corp and G2 (twice) on their way to a dominant 3–0 final. Back then, the Elyoya-Alvaro duo looked unstoppable, and the team’s preparation and work ethic were widely praised as the best in the league. But after a painful loss to BLG at MSI — a series they could have won, especially with Jojopyun in stellar form — MKOI seemed to lose their momentum.

As head coach, Melzhet pointed out in several behind-the-scenes videos on the team’s YouTube channel, the drop in intensity and preparation over Summer reflected that loss of focus. Despite remaining a solid top-two team, MKOI never came close to challenging G2 again. That said, Myrwn looks stronger than ever — far more prepared for international top-lane competition than he was last year — and Jojopyun has found his rhythm again. The weaker links have been Supa, who struggled in playoffs, and the Elyoya/Alvaro duo, who couldn’t truly recapture their Spring synergy. If MKOI manage to recover the discipline they’ve lost both on and off the Rift, they might still have what it takes to surprise everyone at Worlds.

Fnatic – A Justified Third Seed for Worlds 2025

Fnatic, meanwhile, were by far the least convincing of Europe’s top three this year — and their third seed feels about right. Many fans expected Karmine Corp to claim that spot, but while KC collapsed due to internal issues, Fnatic managed to fix some of theirs just in time for the Summer Split. The organization made a bold move by parting ways with Humanoid and bringing in Poby — the “Greatest of Some Times.” The decision paid off: Poby provided the stability and focus the team had been missing. Under his influence, previously underperforming players like Oscarinin and Razork — both of whom seemed close to being benched — stepped up significantly. Their qualification series against Karmine Corp showcased that resurgence, with the Spanish duo carrying the team to victory and a ticket to China.

Still, it’s hard to say Fnatic has raised their overall level. Much of their success against KC came from superior preparation and mental approach, as proven in their following series lost against MKOI. FNC still look dominant against teams with weaker individual players, but they struggle much more when the level rises and early-game opportunities become scarce. Fnatic’s game plan remains heavily centered around their bot side — dominating early and snowballing from there. When they are not in control of the early game, they tend to look fragile — and with so much individual talent and discipline on display at Worlds, that weakness could prove costly. Fnatic may have stabilized and regained some form, but the gap between them and the top two still feels considerable.