G2 Esports vs Origen

The final before the final. The clash between — rankings-wise — the two best teams the LEC currently has to offer. If there was ever a match this split that you shouldn’t miss out on, this has to be it.

A Best of 5 between two teams that are at the top of their game. They’re so incredibly strong and quick to adapt, it’s not even fair to the rest of the competition. They have the most depth, the highest potential, and the deepest champion pools. They can attain success through multiple avenues, and even though they’re still not overly cohesive, they’re making things work more often than not.

These ten players are some of the best League of Legends competitors that have ever graced the LEC stage, and that’s saying something. The reason as to why this match is so darn exciting is because both teams have highly unique playstyles, and they want to attain success through different means.

Whereas G2 Esports wants to outclass their opponents and often brute force things — with the maximum amount of style points included, Origen is a lot different. They don’t have one single hard carry that’s going to take over the game. They don’t have a Wunder, a Caps, or even a Perkz. They’re just not as crazy or as flexible — but they’re still just as dangerous. They’re playing like a well-oiled machine and that’s perhaps their biggest asset. There’s no one lingering weakness or glaring hole in their playstyle that can be easily punished or abused.

They might not blow you away with their individual prowess, but their team fighting is downright exceptional.

Years of competitive play has given Origen a ton of resilience and mental fortitude. Even when they’re behind, they know the game is far from lost. They know that a turnaround is just a couple of macro decisions away. And they play with that mindset which means they only lose when their Nexus explodes. With veterans like Kold, Nukeduck, and Mithy, it’s hard to outmacro them at any point of the game.

They’re all incredible players that are very cerebral and aware of what’s going on in the game and how it’s progressing. With so much in-depth knowledge on the game and all of its many elements, it’s hard to be a step ahead of Origen. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect, but they were able to claw from the bottom of the standings all the way to the top and even secure a playoff bye — and that’s incredible no matter how you look at things.

The fact that they were able to leapfrog teams like Team Vitality, Schalke 04, Misfits, Splyce and even Fnatic is a testament to their skill and grit. They know their worth, and are just waiting for the world to realize it as well.

They are vulnerable, however, but a lot has to go right for the opposing team in order to beat Origen. Fortunately for G2 Esports, they’re arguably one of two teams in the region that actually has a chance to beat such a veteran-filled roster.

This is such a hard match to predict, mainly because it can go either way. The meta also slightly shifted over the last couple of weeks — we’ve seen different prioritization of Hecarim, Urgot, and Kayle. We know G2 Esports surely have perfect command of these picks, but Origen always held their cards close to the chest. They’re entering this Best of 5 as a serious question mark, and that could be their biggest asset. It’s not like they’re boring or one-dimensional either — they’re perfectly capable of going for those hectic five-on-five brawls throughout the game.

Be as it may, we have to pick a side, and it really hasn’t been this hard in years. We’ve seen both teams outclass their opposition, but also fail on more than one occasion. We’ve seen their incredible, astonishing highs, but abysmal lows as well. We know what these two teams are capable of, and they’re both frightening when they’re at the top of their game. But because they have such diverging playstyles, we can’t know for sure who’s going to emerge on top.

Anything can happen this time around. We could see a ferocious G2 Esports straight out the gates, and they could, in theory, outclass Origen at will. Conversely, we could see them greed out in the pick and ban phase, and play without any respect towards their opponents — and it wouldn’t be the first time. They could come out with ample amounts of cheese and just get steamrolled by Origen’s stellar macro and team play. There are so many ways this Best of 5 could unfold, and each and every one of them are perfectly viable.

Regardless, we have to side with G2 Esports. They’ve been at the top of the region for so long — the entire split, in fact — and have looked spectacular in the process. Sure, they didn’t manage to end the split on the right foot, but the fact that they’ve been able to take sole possession of first place in a landscape this competitive, is downright astonishing, and is worthy of the highest praise.

They have everything they need in order to dethrone Fnatic. Will that happen? It still remains to be seen, and the odds might not be in their favor. But having the right pieces of the puzzle is more than enough to give them a puncher’s chance. They have the experience, the mental fortitude, the mechanical prowess and deep champion pools. They can flex around in the draft and their champion pools know no bounds. They also have some of the best — if not the best — players in each and every role.

So it’s only a matter of time before they give Fnatic a run for their money. They’re still a bit unhinged, a bit rough around the edges, but their sheer talent and innate versatility is exceptional in every regard, and many years could pass until we see another roster that’s so talented and versatile.

Then again, their own bravado and confidence often gets in the way. Could it happen today as well? Absolutely. But seeing how they fell off as the regular portion of the split came to an end, they’re surely looking for redemption. They know their stock took a big hit, and they want to prove to the world once again that their recent loss streak wasn’t indicative of their power level. They know they have a very game, highly dangerous opponent on the opposite side and they know they have to take this Best of 5 extremely seriously.

That doesn’t mean they will, but at least they know slacking off is no longer an option. Origen are coming in hot and they’re surely prepared for a grueling match. They might not have one singular hard carry within their team, but their cohesion and macro are more than enough to counter G2’s sheer talent. They play a standard style of League of Legends, and they don’t have any glaring weakness per se.

But then again, it’s impossible to bet against the likes of Wunder, Caps, and Perkz. You simply have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

With all that said, make no mistake — this is as good as it gets. This could very well be a Best of 5 for the ages, and also one that could easily go the full distance. The final outcome will be determined by the slimmest of margins, and there is virtually no room for error seeing how both teams are playing at such an insanely high level. In any case, we should be in for one exceptional day of League of Legends.