LEC: Summer Playoff Picture Defined
After several weeks of competition, the LEC has finally defined the playoff picture for the summer split. Only four teams remain in the running for the champion title, and the name of the favorite is already evident to everyone.
Dominating the season so far are the G2 Esports, a team that continues to reign after their slip-up in the spring split. But will it be enough to reclaim the trophy? Team Heretics, Excel Esports, and Fnatic are fierce competitors and will fight until the end, even though the task ahead doesn’t seem easy.
Let’s take a look at how this playoff picture shapes up and try to predict which teams can dream of getting their hands on the trophy.
The summer split LEC playoff picture
The winner bracket
Opening the summer split LEC playoffs and also having the luxury of a second chance will be G2 Esports and Excel Esports. These two teams are quite different from each other and have had very different 2023 seasons.
On one hand, we have the absolute dominators of the European competitive scene, destined to win this split without much effort. On the other hand, we have XL, real underdogs of this season, capable of recovering and redeeming themselves after two rather negative splits.
Their match seems to be predetermined, but it might offer some significant emotions. In any case, the team that comes out defeated from this match won’t be immediately eliminated. As mentioned earlier, those in the winner bracket have a second chance in case of defeat, as they will face the winner of the match between Team Heretics and Fnatic.
The loser bracket
Heretics and Fnatic could create one of the most interesting and thrilling matches of the entire playoffs, given the desire for redemption both teams possess.
The orange-black team experienced a true path of redemption during the summer, saying goodbye to Rekkles and welcoming the immense talent of the Korean player, Noah, a semi-unknown player on whom almost no one would have bet. Despite all the negative predictions, Fnatic shone, finding their rhythm in the regular season.
They faced some difficulties in the group stage, being defeated by surprising SK in the first round. However, they managed to reverse the result in the decisive match for qualification, where Humanoid and his teammates found their way back.
A similar story can be told for Heretics, who faced some additional difficulties during the regular season. The team had to adapt to the entrance of Vetheo, who redeemed himself after two splits spent in the shadows. In short, this match encompasses many intriguing storylines.