G2 Esports win inaugural LEC Winter Split, punch ticket to MSI with victory over MAD Lions

G2 Esports kicked off their 2023 League of Legends competitive season by climbing to the summit of Europe for the tenth time. The team delivered MAD Lions a crushing defeat by closing the final series of the Winter Split without losing a single game while mesmerizing their fans in the LEC studio and at home with peculiar draft picks. In addition to winning the first-ever LEC Shield, they have also locked in the first spot for the 2023 MSI, which will be held in May in London. 

Photo by Michal Konkol/Riot Games

MAD Lions shattered the G2 era in 2021 by winning back-to-back titles, but they could not oppose them this time. G2 reclaimed the throne on their terms: with a proactive style, mind-blowing draft picks, and a perfect symbiosis between raw individual talent and teamwork.