Melany M. July 20, 2019
G2 Esports is in first place in the 2019 LEC Summer Split.
The spring champions continue to live up to the high expectations fans pinned on them after winning the Mid-Season Invitational. The squad secured its spot atop the league at the midway point of the split with an impressive victory over Excel Esports.
The match between the best and worst of the LEC was a quick affair. G2 settled for a standard composition with priorities in the top and bottom lane. Excel drafted accordingly and managed to get an edge in the mid lane with Neeko.
Excel had an aggressive game plan. Despite being in an unfavorable position, Excel wanted to fight right from the start. Unfortunately for them, G2 is not a team that can be easily thrown off their game with aggressive moves. On the contrary, initiating the team fights plays right into their style.
Jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski spent most of the early game around the bottom lane. The strategy became clear, play through the bottom lane and help facilitate Martin “Wunder” Hansen's growth in the top lane. Mid laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther roamed to the bottom side to offer extra support.
Son “Mickey” Young-min took that opportunity to get some gold but everywhere else around him, Excel was falling apart. For every kill Excel got, G2 answered with three.
G2 got out of the bottom lane and moved to the top where they finished what Wunder started. In a single push with the Rift Herald, G2 destroyed two turrets. If any Excel player dared to get close, Jankos was ready to send them back to the fountain.
At 16 minutes, the difference between both teams was comical. Excel fought just for the fun of it, knowing well that there was no getting back into the game. In true G2 fashion, the defending champions closed the game before the baron buff had a chance to spawn.
It was a dominant, albeit unsurprising win. It wasn't until later in the day that G2 took first place uncontested as Fnatic dropped a game versus Rogue to leave G2 as the lone LEC team with an 8-1 record.