Fnatic vs Gen.G esports

Calling this the most hype match of the day wouldn't even begin to do it justice. Gen.G vs. Fnatic is guaranteed to deliver. We have two exceptional, storied line-ups that have more than enough talent to compete on even footing. Still, they both have something to prove, which makes their individual narratives that much more exciting. On the one hand we have Gen.G, a team that literally got into Groups through sheer luck, given how the two VCS representatives couldn't travel to Shanghai. They would've still gotten through the Play-Ins with relative ease, but the point stands. They're also the third seed from Korea, meaning they don't have much hype or momentum, despite their seasoned roster. DAMWON has sole possession of first place and have shown no intention on relinquishing it any time soon. DRX comes in second, although they're nowhere near as strong to actually compete for first. Lastly, Gen.G sits in third as a strange outlier of sorts, a team that's definitely good enough to lock down a ticket to Worlds but still incapable of actually leaving a mark. They're like a top-tier gatekeeper, if that makes sense.

By the same token, Fnatic is in pretty much the exact same position. They've been playing second-fiddle to G2 Esports throughout 2020 and have done very little to actually upset the perennial LEC kings. They've fallen in swift 0-3 fashion in both the Spring and Summer finals, and while stalwart fans still believe in their potential, the odds of them actually leaving a mark at Worlds are rather slim. They have a chance, fortunately, but as always they'll face an uphill battle on their path to glory. They're currently sitting on a respectable 1W-1L record, and are considered by many as a shoo-in for reaching the Knockout Stage. Most fans and analysts expect Fnatic to end up in second place which *does* make a fair bit of sense. They're exceptional more often than not, but they're also insanely volatile and inconsistent. Their drafts often leaves a lot to be desired as well, and you're never quite sure which shade of Fnatic will come out on stage and compete -- and whether they'll actually get their comfort picks and execute.

Their recent loss to LGD, however, is a reason for concern. Now sure, they didn't have a good team comp to work with, but dropping a game to LGD means this group is, essentially, wide open. They're tied with the fourth seed from the LPL and are by no means favored against Gen.G -- a team that already holds a win over LGD and is generally considered as the most capable team of the bunch. We also have Team SoloMid in fourth place and, while they're definitely not going to challenge for a spot at the top, they're still a capable challenger that shouldn't be taken lightly.

With Gen.G and Fnatic, there are too many nuanced factors at play. Fnatic's win conditions are more remote which is why we're siding with the former 2017 World Champions. That said, make no mistake: this will be an insanely close game, and both teams have a shot at emerging victorious.