The LEC Winter Split 2025 Playoffs began on Saturday, February 15, with Fnatic maintaining their impressive regular season form by dominating Team Heretics in a swift 2-0 victory. Meanwhile, G2 Esports faced a tougher challenge against GIANTX but ultimately secured a 2-0 win, continuing their steady rise in form. With both teams advancing, the highly anticipated Upper Bracket Semifinal between Fnatic and G2 promises to be an intense showdown.

Fnatic's clean execution and controlled gameplay showcased why they are top contenders in this split. They only died three times in the first game, maintaining full control from start to finish. Their dominance allowed Elias "Upset" Lipp’s Kai’Sa to freely dish out damage and close the game in style with an impressive 5/0/4 score. The series MVP went to Óscar "Oscarinin" Muñoz Jiménez, who delivered a standout performance on Gnar in the second game. He dominated his lane matchup against Carl Ulsted "Carlsen" Carlsen, creating a massive advantage that convincingly helped Fnatic secure their 2-0 victory.

G2 needed over 42 minutes to take down GiantX in a tense first game, and even though it was only the start of the BO3, it seems the fearless draft is already inspiring them. Sergen "BrokenBlade" Çelik made history by picking Warwick, the first time the champion has been played in Tier 1 since the EU LCS 2017 Summer, and delivered a standout performance. GiantX put up a fight, but G2’s experience and adaptability ultimately allowed them to close out the series. Their topside was particularly dominant, with new jungler Rudy "SkewMond" Semaan making a strong impression. His impact across the map was crucial in securing the victory, earning him the MVP title of the series.

It feels almost inevitable, Fnatic and G2 are set to clash once again on February 17 at 6 PM CET in the Upper Bracket Semifinals. As the two most dominant European organizations in recent years, their rivalry is one of the most iconic in the region, and this will be yet another chapter in their long history of high-stakes battles. Meanwhile, Team Heretics will fight for their tournament survival against GiantX on February 22 at 6 PM CET. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the loser will see their Winter Split come to an end.