LEC - G2 Esports (9/10): New Heirs in the Samurai Kingdom

G2 Esports enters a new cycle. After the disappointment of yet another Worlds appearance without making it past the Swiss Stage, the Samurais have decided to change up their roster, which has dominated Europe over the past two years by winning five of the six possible splits and also securing the Season Finals twice.

They are starting a new chapter while retaining their greatest strengths in the solo lanes and carry positions with Sergen "BrokenBlade" Çelik, Rasmus "Caps" Winther, and Steven "Hans Sama" Liv. To this core, they’ve added one of the most exciting jungle prospects of 2024, Rudy "SkewMond" Semaan, and one of the most consistent support players in the LEC last year, Labros "Labrov" Papoutsakis.

This shift in the jungle and support roles signals a new chapter for the team. They face the heavy challenge of maintaining G2’s dominance in Europe while breaking through the international glass ceiling that looms over the team. General Manager Romain Bigeard emphasized that after two years with the same five players, the team needed “fresh blood”. Over time, familiar faces and routines can lead to stagnation in internal dynamics, and G2 was no exception. “There are fights you no longer have internally after two years together, and you lose the energy and newness of a freshly built team” he explained.

“When recruiting new players, we're looking for solo queue grinders and individuals who are hungry for success”, he said. So when it came to the support position, G2 had a clear target: Labrov. Romain stated that Labrov was always a priority for them and was already on their short list in 2023. At the same time, SkewMond’s promising rise with BDS Academy and in Solo Queue made him the ideal candidate to replace Martin "Yike" Sundelin in the jungle. G2’s reputation and recent success obviously allowed them to approach players with confidence, knowing that top-tier talent would be willing to negotiate with the organization, even post-Worlds.

G2’s decision to focus on the jungle and support positions clearly reflects the current meta in modern League of Legends. The jungle and support positions are pivotal in dictating the game's pace, especially in the mid and late stages. In Skewmond and Labrov, G2 found players who not only fit this mold but also brought new energy and perspectives to these critical positions.

When asked about the potential for roster changes in the solo lanes, Bigeard confirmed that there was no serious consideration to move BrokenBlade or Caps. While the Worlds performance didn’t go as planned, G2 was satisfied with their solo laners and knew they would remain key pillars of the team.

The European offseason market is notoriously fast-paced, and G2 had to act quickly to secure the changes they wanted right after their Worlds run ended against Bilibili Gaming on October 13. The timing was critical, as Romain explained: “The market started early this year, with many teams making moves even before Worlds. We needed to position ourselves, even if we weren’t ready to make decisions.” For G2, however, roster planning is a year-round process, with constant monitoring of player performances and potential future moves.

According to him, G2 always has a general idea of their potential roster changes, which allowed them to move swiftly once Worlds concluded. "We have quarterly internal meetings with the CEO and Head of Esports to discuss the state of the team and potential changes, so if the time comes, we know what to do”, he said. "We didn't know what options we had to activate, our Worlds run precipitated some decisions."

While the team had a rough idea of who they wanted to bring in, the process of releasing players from their contracts, especially after a disappointing Worlds, wasn’t always easy. “It’s never pleasant to tell players that they’re not part of the future plans”, Romain remarked. However, G2 prioritized transparency, notifying players quickly to avoid prolonging any uncertainty.

One of the more dramatic narratives surrounding G2’s offseason involved their AD Carry, Hans Sama. As his contract negotiations approached, rumors swirled about potential replacements. According to Romain, G2’s interest in Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert, reported by Sheep Esports, was never meant to replace Hans Sama but rather to strengthen their negotiating position. "We needed to look at all options for our negotiations," he said. "We had, at least, to ask Karmine Corp, since he's the biggest ADC prospect on the market, and we'd be doing our job wrong if we didn't even go and ask them."

This approach prompted Karmine Corp to reject the idea outright "without even any figures mentioned", which only fueled the market speculation. However, as Romain clarified, it wasn’t about replacing Hans but about ensuring the best possible contract for G2 moving forward. "To me, Hans is currently the best ADC in Europe” he affirmed. Following these negotiations, Hans re-signed with G2, adding extra motivation to his already competitive drive. "He went to Korea, played 300 games and finished 6th in the ladder," Romain underlined.

With the new additions of SkewMond and Labrov, G2 is preparing for a season where they must redefine their identity. The dynamic between the jungle and support players, in particular, will be crucial to G2’s success. Romain believes that team communication and shotcalling will evolve with these changes: “When you have players who communicate well, it fundamentally alters how the team operates in different stages of the game. The shotcalling and game flow will be different”, he said. While many speculate about the impact of these roster changes on G2’s team dynamic, Romain is confident the team’s strong processes and proven track record will ensure a smooth transition. “We have solidified our internal processes over time” he stated, pointing to the successes G2 has experienced with past roster changes.

As G2 prepares for another competitive year, the team's offseason moves have raised the stakes for Europe’s biggest teams. G2's revamped roster will certainly spark rivalries with teams like Fnatic and Karmine Corp, both of whom have their eyes on top-tier talent in Europe.

In the end, while G2’s offseason decisions might have shaken up their roster, their determination to remain a top contender in Europe remains unwavering. With a new, hungry squad and a clear vision of what they want to achieve, the club is still eager to earn more titles and break the ceiling they encountered in recent years. They will face their first challenge on the opening day of the LEC, taking on KC's squad, which now features G2's former jungler, Yike, and Europe's most promising rising star, Caliste.

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