TL;DW – MSI Edition: Battle of GEN vs G2

The champions banned were Pantheon, Taliyah, Kalista, Lee Sin, Poppy, and Gwen during the 1^st round and Annie, Ornn, Ahri, and Sylas during the 2^nd. GEN picks Rumble (top), Vi (jungle), Aurora (mid), Jhin (bot), Alistar (support). G2 picks Galio (top), Wukong (jungle), Ryze (mid), Senna (bot), Tahm Kench (support).

In terms of composition, GEN has opted for a more pick-oriented comp, while G2 is more late-game scaling.

GEN starts things off with a gank against Hans Sama in the Bot Lane. G2 answers back with a gank of their own in Top Lane. G2 takes the 1^st Drake (Cloud) but a fight for Voidgrubs sees GEN ahead 3-2 in kills while also securing the Grubs.

G2 gets a kill at Dragon Pit before taking the 2^nd Drake (Mountain). The score is now 4-2. A fight in G2’s Blue Jungle raises the score to 10-4 in GEN’s favor. They are also able to take the 3^rd Drake (Ocean) uncontested as a result.

Kiin gets caught out in Mid Lane and dies but his team is on Atakhan and are able to take it uncontested so a decent trade. A fight then breaks out in Mid Lane before the 4^th Drake spawns, which sees GEN’s lead expand to 14-7. They take the Drake afterward.

GEN chokes out G2’s vision, allowing them to take Baron uncontested. They then used the Buff to siege G2’s Base and end the game at 31:58. The final score was 27-11.

Game 3: GEN Walk Over G2

The champions banned were Gwen, Pantheon, Ahri, Kalista, Twisted Fate, and Taliyah during the 1^st round and Trundle, Akali, Poppy, and Sylas during the 2^nd. G2 picks Gnar (top), Jarvan IV (jungle), Viktor (mid), Ezreal (bot), Rell (support). GEN picks K’Sante (top), Lee Sin (jungle), Oriana (mid), Miss Fortune (bot), Nautilus (support).

In terms of composition, G2 has strong wombo combo synergy, with J4 trapping people in place so Viktor’s Arcane Storm can hit them constantly. Like wish, GEN also has potential for grouping, with Lee Sin, Nautilus, and K’Sante being good Oriana Ball delivery systems.

G2 claims the 1^st Drake (Cloud) but GEN, again, starts things off with a gank. This time they go Top, but the target is still the same, Hans Sama. GEN also secured all 3 Grubs. Seems to be a trend.

GEN gets the 2^nd Drake (Mountain) and the Rift Herald. GEN takes several kills and Turrets in quick succession. Canyon even uses the Rift Herald to chase down and kill Hans Sama. The score is now 4-1 in GEN’s favor. They also claim the 3^rd Drake (Chemtech).

GEN’s map control and pressure is such that G2 aren’t able to do anything as Ruler and Canyon take Atakhan. Later, an extended fight for the 4^th Drake results in GEN securing the Drake and ending the game at 27:21. The final score was 14-3.

Game 4: Close Game

The champions banned were Pantheon, Nidalee, Annie, Gwen, Trundle, and Renata during the 1^st round and Ambessa, Zed, Camille, and Olaf during the 2^nd. GEN picks Jayce (top), Skarner (jungle), Taliyah (mid), Corki (bot), Poppy (support). G2 picks Aatrox (top), Dr. Mundo (jungle), Twisted Fate (mid), Kai’Sa (bot), Leona (support).

In terms of composition, GEN is more poke and pick oriented while G2 has more diving potential.

GEN, yet again, starts things off with a gank. This time they goBot Lane and kill BrokenBlade. G2 also manages to get the 1^st Drake (Ocean) again but this time they have to work for it. In the end, they get the Drake, but the score is 4-2 in GEN’s favor, who also claim all 3 Voidgrubs. That’s 4 games in a row with G2 getting Drake first and GEN getting Grubs.

GEN secures the 2^nd Drake (Infernal), though in the time between G2 gets 2 more kills, evening up the score.

GEN claims the Rift Herald but G2 secures the 3^rd Drake (Cloud). GEN also takes the Atakhan uncontested. A fight breaks out for the 4^th Drake. GEN comes out ahead and secures the Drake. The score is now 7-7.

A fight over Baron ends with GEN claiming the objective and regaining the lead in kills by 1 (11-10). GEN claims the 5^th Drake and then starts sieging G2’s Base. After they take the Bot Inhibitor, they rotate over to Mid. Ruler Hans Sama overextends and ends up dying. This leads to GEN ACEing G2 and ending the game at 30:33. The final score was 16-11.

Post Series Analysis: MSI’s First Casualty

One could almost say that the 1^st game was merely a practice run for GEN. just them getting a feel for their opponents. Games 2 and 3 were heavily in GEN’s favor as they applied early pressure and were unrelenting in their aggression. Game 4 was a bit more even, but GEN were still able to capitalize on their comps strengths and beat out G2 in the end.

This loss relegates G2 to the Lower Bracket, where they will still have a chance to win, though they will have to fight everyone else in the Lower Bracket for the opportunity.  GEN, meanwhile, will head to the Upper Bracket.