Worlds 2024 news and Road to London content powered by AGON by AOC | (Photo by Adela Sznajder/Riot Games)
G2 Esports and Fnatic have this weekend been eliminated from the League of Legends Worlds 2024 Swiss stage, meaning no EMEA or EU teams managed to reach the knockout stage.
Fnatic lost to Weibo Gaming 2-1 on Saturday and G2 fell to BLG 2-1 on Sunday.
G2’s exit is especially heartbreaking as they carried the region’s last hopes in a tournament held on European soil, following Fnatic and Mad Lions Koi’s exit from Worlds 2024. It’s a far cry from G2’s performance in 2019, which saw them reach the final in Paris.
These early eliminations leave only one NA team in the tournament – FlyQuest – running as the West’s hope in clutching the Summoner’s Cup at this year’s Worlds. And all four LPL teams will advance to the quarter finals, showcasing once again the strength of China’s competitive LoL esports scene.
G2 Esports’ run at Worlds 2024 ends in rollercoaster battle following tough run of matches in Swiss stage – players and G2 react
G2 Esports’ journey at Worlds 2024 came to a crushing end after a hard-fought series against Bilibili Gaming.
As the last hope for Europe, G2 had already endured one of the most difficult paths in the tournament, battling against top-tier teams, including HLE, T1 and BLG, for a spot in the quarter finals. Despite wins over Pain Gaming and Weibo Gaming, they lost the three tougher matches.
“If we had a different draw we probably could have made it further into the tournament, but in the end if you’re not good enough to beat teams like HLE and BLG then you don’t deserve to be the best. And I think the draw is just a recipe of luck: some people get lucky, some people get unlucky, but in the end if you’re good you also get lucky and we were not good enough.”
G2 top-laner BrokenBlade in the post-match press conference
The first game saw BLG take a commanding lead, finishing off G2 in a decisive 35-minute match. But G2 came back, levelling the series 1-1.
Game three was extremely close. In a pivotal late-game teamfight, Hans Sama reported a potential bug with Kalista’s E ability, but after a lengthy pause review tournament officials confirmed no issues, and the game continued without any more interruptions.
Unfortunately for G2, one final teamfight sealed their fate. With the Baron buff in hand, BLG marched into G2’s base and swiftly closed out the series, eliminating Europe’s last representative from Worlds 2024.
G2 jungler Yike simply said on Twitter: “Heartbreaking.”
Support player Mikyx added: “What a shit way to end the year.”
The official G2 account said: “At least we went out swinging. The support on home turf was unreal, thanks to everyone showing love, hope we put on a good show for you all.”
G2 League of Legends general manager Romain Bigeard had the following to say:
Fnatic’s disappointing exit from Worlds 2024 – Sam Mathews and Noah react
Fnatic’s Worlds 2024 campaign has been a disappointment, falling short of fans’ expectations once again. Their elimination came at the hands of Weibo Gaming in a 2-1 series, with many fans left frustrated by what they see as ongoing internal issues within the team.
The match itself was full of ups and downs, with Fnatic giving fans hope by winning the first game, but they failed to maintain momentum in the following two, which ultimately sealed their fate.
Fnatic founder Sam Mathews said after the LoL team’s Worlds 2024 exit: “Thank you to all the fans that supported us through thick and thin this season, I know there’s a lot of frustrations and we hear them. Now for the off season. Lots to think about and changes needed to bring the level of performance befitting the black and orange on the local and international level.
“Please be patient with us and send your love to the players who have put in their all over this long season.”
Fnatic ADC Noah added: “2024, which was so long and so hard, has just ended. I’m sorry that it ended with only disappointment. However, I think that although there were many difficult moments while participating in all the competitions and making it to the finals four times in the past year and a half, every moment seems to have been a good experience.
“I think I’ve grown a lot mentally, technically, as a person, and as a player. There were a lot of really tough moments, but I persevered and got to where I am now. That’s why I’m proud of who I am now. Thank you to everyone who supported me until the end. I don’t know what will happen next year, but I will always be the Noah who does his best.”
Update: Noah has posted another update on October 22nd 2024, apologising to fans and revealing he told Fnatic he wants to leave the team.
Fnatic fans’ frustrations
Fnatic’s elimination from Worlds was overshadowed by controversy following an interview with their support player, Jun, where he commented on a Yone ban after a crucial loss against TES in the previous match.
His statement and subsequent apology sparked fan outrage, with many fans felt the apology was forced, speculating about internal dysfunction within the team.
Social media also became a battleground between disappointed fans, Fnatic’s attempted meme on the matter, and the team’s management, leading fans to criticise the org.
Fnatic’s founder, Sam Matthews, responded to fan backlash by denying any internal issues, asserting that Jun’s apology was voluntary.
Despite his reassurances, the fan base remained unconvinced, with some pointing to long-standing issues within the organisation, from management to the coaching staff.
Fnatic’s failure to move past the Swiss stage, combined with this internal turmoil, has left fans disheartened. Calls for structural changes, including replacing key staff like team manager Dardo, have grown louder, with many arguing that the organisation’s leadership is to blame for the team’s decline over recent years.
Some fans wrote open letters to Sam and Fnatic expressing their disappointment, while others took to social media and reddit to complain further.
FlyQuest reach Worlds 2024 knockout stage in Paris – eight teams listed
By Dom Sacco
North American LoL team FlyQuest are one of the top eight League of Legends teams in the world.
FlyQuest beat GAM, PSG and fellow NA side Team Liquid 2-1 to progress, despite losing to Dplus and HLE.
While they had an easier run-in than G2, they won when it mattered, and will join other teams in the quarter finals: LNG vs Weibo, HLE vs BLG, Top Esports vs T1 and FlyQuest vs Gen.G.
So that’s confirmed: FlyQuest will now face Gen.G in the Worlds 2024 quarter finals in Paris on October 20th 2024. Good luck, FlyQuest. I think you’re going to need it.
Related article: Worlds 2024 interviews with FlyQuest Massu and Team Liquid APA on playing without regret and keeping hopes for NA alive
Hi, I’m Cecilia! A freelance writer mainly focusing on League of Legends and its esports scenes. Find me at events interviewing anyone who has a story to tell, from players to the talented people working behind the scenes. Do you also have a story to share? Reach out to me via Twitter.
