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The final split of the European League in 2024 is nearing its climax. LEC Summer 2024 Playoffs moves on to the second round of the main stage.
We open the second round of the LEC Summer 2024 playoffs top grid with SK Gaming vs Fnatic. The winner goes to the top 3.
We will see which of the teams will be stronger and qualify for the next round of LEC Summer 2024 play-offs, and who will fall to the lower grid of the main stage.
Let's go.
SK Gaming's form
We open the match breakdown with an analysis of SK Gaming's form. In this match they will play as favourites with odds to win at around 1.7.
The main achievement of SK Gaming last season was the debut winter LEC split. The team, being among the outsiders and previously ranked in the top 8 at LEC Spring and LEC Summer, managed not only to make it to the play-offs, but also put up a serious fight against MAD Lions in the match for the top 3.
What followed was much worse. At LEC Spring 2023 SK Gaming were not so confident. This time they managed to pass the regular season and bo1 matches, but not the group stage. SK fell in the top 7.
- SK Gaming roster: Irrelevent, Isma, Nisqy, Exakick, Doss.
At LEC Summer 2023 SK Gaming almost repeated the spring result, with a slight improvement. They took the top 6, but thanks to the top 4 at LEC Winter 2023 they still reached the regional finals.
However, SK Gaming's achievements ended at the LEC 2023 finals. There they played the only match against BDS and lost 0-3 without a chance.
SK Gaming passed the group stage of LEC Winter 2024 quite well. The team played the regular season with the score 5-4.
In the first round of play-offs SK Gaming met Vitality. After a disgusting season Vitality cameback, and so that they managed to reach the second round of the upper grid, and SK Gaming went to the lower grid. There, they faced Team Heretics in the first round and proved to be stronger, despite being nominal outsiders. However, SK Gaming's way out of the LEC Winter 2024 play-offs ended with a second round play-offs match against Fnatic.
LEC Spring 2024 play-offs were reached by chance and thanks to character. To get to the main stage they had to win a tiebreaker against Rogue. In the first match of the play-offs SK gave a good fight to Vitality, taking away their card, but unfortunately for them it didn't help them to win. Similar situation was in the match against Heretics, which led SK Gaming to the top 8.
SK Gaming finished the LEC Summer 2024 regular season in 1st place with a score of 8-1. At the Long Cognega play-offs LEC Summer 2024 took on Heretics with a 2-0 win.
SK Gaming's most popular champions
The top SK Gaming picks were Gnar (2 games, 1 win), KSante (1 game, 0 wins), Camile (1 game, 1 win), Sion (1 game, 1 win), Renekton (1 game, 1 win).
Sejuani and Eliza are honoured in the forest. Both champions have appeared twice each and won both matches, but Vi and Kindred have lost their games.
The centre line performs on Sylas (2 matches, 50% wins), Kassadin (1 time, 0 wins), Azir, Syndra and Akali (1 game each and 100% wins).
From shooters - Zeri. The character appeared 3 times and won 2 matches, besides Varus (who lost the only match), Sivir and Lucian.
Karma, who has had enough of Karma, as well as Renata Glasc and Lulu. Yummi won two matches out of 3, Karma lost the only game, and Renata Glasc and Lulu won.
Fnatic Form
We continue our match breakdown with an analysis of Fnatic's match form. In this match, the Oranges are playing as number two with odds to win at around 2.
Fnatic started their ascent to the LEC Regional Finals last season with an appearance at LEC Winter 2023. It wasn't a successful one, as the Orange finished in 9th place and didn't make it out of the group stage.
The following season, Fnatic gave one last chance to roster with Rekkles. They failed to use it, as FNC, after coming out of the group stage, lost in the first match against MAD Lions, thus ending the spring split on the top 8.
- Fnatic lineup: Oscarinin, Razork, Humanoid, Noah, Jun.
Two terrible splits resulted in major re-splits. ADC Rekkles and support Advienne left the band. In their place came Korean legionnaire Noah and experienced support Trymbi. The result was not long in coming.
Fnatic looked much better at the LEC summer split than at the two previous ones. The team managed to make it through the group stage and then made it to the top 3 of LEC Summer 2023, which allowed them to advance to the regional finals. Here's the truth, to the bottom set.
Fnatic played against Excel - the main opener of LEC Summer 2023 - in the match to advance to the Top 4 and won. They won 3-2 in a tense bo5.
In the match for the LEC Finals 2023 Small Final, Fnatic and BDS had a real fight (3-2), and Fnatic ended up here.
They also managed to beat MAD Lions, with whom they played for a place in the grand final. And again, the full-fledged bo5 with a score of 3-2 in favour of the Orange. But the grand final was not enough: G2 Esports beat Fnatic 3-1.
At Worlds 2023, Orange played to the best of their ability. The club lost the first match against LNG Esports, and then outplayed the Vietnamese from GAM Esports.
The last match on the way to a 1-2 set was a match against BLG, which Fnatic legitimately lost. Then FNC defeated C9 with a score of 2-1, and in the match for play-offs Ledge and WBG. The latter, by the way, became the vice-champion of the World Championship, so the result for the European club was excellent.
Fnatic will debut at LEC Winter 2024 with a match against Karmine Corp. Based on the experience of previous seasons, there is every chance to see the favourite (which is Fnatic) lose in that match. Next, they will face Vitality and this is where I would bet in favour of the Orange. That's pretty much how it turned out, except for the match against Karmine Corp: Fnatic closed two series, but lost in the match against SK Gaming.
Fnatic had a pretty good start to the regular season, but it got worse from there. Fnatic finished the regular season with a score of 5-4. The LEC Winter 2024 playoffs "Orange Longsong" with a very confident victory against MAD Lions. Next, Fnatic played against G2 Esports and looked good there, even managing to snatch a card, which no one has managed to do so far.
In the match for the quarter-finals Fnatic met with SK Gaming. The German club put up a fight, but Fnatic were stronger: 2-1 in favour of Humanoid and company guaranteed their passage to the top 4 of LEC Winter 2024.
In the next match, Fnatic were able to fight G2 Esports and take the map away from them, but they were unable to surpass the Samurai in the match. Fnatic also failed to get a chance to continue their participation in the tournament in the lower grid, where Fnatic lost to MAD Lions KOI with a score of 2-3. At the end of LEC Winter 2024, Fnatic finished in the top 4.
LEC Spring 2024 Fnatic finished the LEC Spring 2024 regular season in the top spot, something the team hasn't had since 2019. In the first round of the play-offs, Fnatic shut out GIANTX on a classy basis. In the match to advance to the upper grid finals, LEC Spring 2024 faced G2 and lost 0-2 without a chance. In the lower grid, they also had difficulties, like in the game against Heretics, but in the end they were able to defeat their counterparts with a score of 2-1 and move on. In the match for the top 3, Fnatic met Vitality and confidently ran them over with a score of 3-1.
For the grand final of LEC Spring 2024 Fnatic fought against BDS and it was a real spectacle: the "orange" were 0-2 down, but they made a reverse sweep and closed the series in their favour. As a result, Fnatic will also go to MSI 2024. In the grand finals of LEC Spring 2024 Orange played against G2 Esports and lost that match.
Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2024 Fnatic started off with a 2-0 win over GAM Esports without any problems at all. In the top set match they met Top Esports and put up a good fight: they took the map, but eventually lost the series with a 1-2 score. In the MSI 2024 Fnatic again defeated GAM Esports 2-0 in the play-offs match. In the first Bracket Stage match, they lost to Gen.G with a score of 0-3, but they showed the game. But in the lower Bracket Stage match, Fnatic very unexpectedly lost to TL with a score of 1-3, thus leaving MSI 2024 at the Top 8 stage.
Before the Esports World Cup 2024, Fnatic confidently entered the LEC Summer 2024 play-offs with a score of 6-3. At the EWC tournament itself, Fnatic finished in the top 6.
They started the LEC Summer 2024 playoffs with a match against GiantX, where they were total favourites to win the card.
Fnatic's most popular champions
Jax (3 matches, 33% wins), Gwen (2 matches, 50% wins), Gangplank (2 matches, 50% wins), Jayce (2 games, 50% wins) take the top line.
In the woods, Maokai (7 matches, 42% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 25% wins), Vi (3 games, 66% wins) were permanent.
The centre line was most often occupied by Sylas (5 matches, 40% wins), Ryze (3 games, 100% wins), Akali (2 games, 0 wins).
Zeri and Sivir peaked equally often on the shooter position. Both heroes appeared 4 times, but the former won all his games, and the latter - none.
Ashe appeared most often amongst the Spurrots. Archer was chosen 5 times and won 2 matches. Yuumi (4 matches, 75% wins), Heimerdinger (4 matches, 25% wins) were also frequently played.
History of head-to-head meetings between Fnatic and SK Gaming
In 2024, the clubs played each other 4 times. The statistics in favour of Fnatic is 3-1.
Predicted result of the match Fnatic - SK Gaming at LEC Summer 2024 Playoffs
In this match I expect an even game. Despite the marvellous play from SK throughout the summer split, Fnatic is historically an uncomfortable opponent for them. That's why my bet is +2.5 total.
Bottom line: +2.5 total.
