Categories: Games

MAD Lions KOI defeated Fnatic, and qualified for the LEC Winter Split Losers Bracket Finals

The LEC Winter Split 2024 Losers Bracket Semifinals took place on Friday, February 16, with the MAD Lions facing off in a five-set match between KOI and Fnatic. At the end of a closely contested meeting, the Spanish team emerged victorious, thus qualifying for the next round and securing their place on the podium.

Until the end of the suspense

Tensions are rising at Riot Games Arena as we enter the 3rd and final week of the 2024 LEC Winter Split Playoffs, a defining moment that will define the contours of the title race. The start of this exciting weekend is marked by an explosive Bo5 between MAD Lions KOI and Fnatic, as part of the Losers Bracket Semi-Finals. This match is not only a showdown between two league greats, but also a chance for the winner to dream bigger and take on Team BDS in the battle for a place in the finals. For the losers, however, the journey would end here, with only fourth in the consolation prize standings. This meeting between MAD Lions KOI and Fnatic therefore promises to be a titanic clash

MAD Lions KOI comes with an iron resolve. After losing to Fnatic in the first weekend of the playoffs, she quickly bounced back with impressive performances against GiantX and Team Vitality. His journey so far shows his unwavering determination not to let his ambition to win a championship fade in the face of adversity. Today, the MAD Lions have a chance to get revenge against the team that sent them to the losers bracket. Fnatic, for its part, began its adventure in the playoffs with a victory against MAD Lions, immediately staking its claim to the title. However, a setback against G2 Esports pushed her deep into the losers bracket, where she struggled to secure her place in this crucial match against SK Gaming. As the season progressed, Fnatic showed clear signs of improvement despite a tendency towards aggression that threatened them at times.

Game 1

The 1st round of Bo5 between MAD Lions and Fnatic was marked by an intense start, with both teams taking an aggressive approach and quickly scoring first kills. Fnatic’s Razork particularly shined during this phase, giving his team a slight advantage thanks to his remarkable work. 15 minutes into the game, despite being tied in terms of gold, Fnatic managed to gain the upper hand during the battle around the dragons, securing two kills as well as the objective. Continuing their momentum, Fnatic opened up the side lanes in the 20th minute, took a significant 3k gold lead and captured the third dragon after a tense encounter. However, in the 23rd minute, Fnatic made a risky decision by attempting Nashor in a 5v4 situation, which backfired with MAD Lions managing to steal the objective. Moments later, MAD Lions made a positioning error that allowed Fnatic to win the next battle.

The decisive moment came in the 27th minute during the team fight for the fourth Dragon Challenge. Thanks to Myrwin’s exceptional performance and Supa’s good follow-up, MAD Lions turned the tide of the game and brought the Ace to Fnatic. This teamfight win not only gave MAD Lions a huge tactical advantage, but also shook Fnatic’s morale. In the 30th minute, MAD once again dominated the second team fight, producing another ace performance and ending the first set in their favour.

Game 2

In the second round of this matchup, Fnatic started with boundless energy, imposing a furious pace from the start of the laning phase. This aggressive approach quickly paid off, putting the MAD Lions under intense pressure, with Fnatic managing to rack up 9 kills and an impressive 6k gold lead in less than 15 minutes. Continuing their momentum, Fnatic maintained constant pressure across the map, dominating exchanges and face-offs. However, MAD Lions managed to find opportunities to breathe, taking a few turrets and trying to regain some room for maneuver in the game.

The MAD Lions put up a good fight despite the clearly unfavorable conditions, but Fnatic extended their advantage in the 20th minute during a decisive topside team fight. This allowed FNC to secure the first Nashor, giving Fnatic a strategic opportunity to lay siege to the enemy base. The MAD Lions, defending fiercely, managed to fend off Fnatic’s first attacks. However, in the 28th minute, a final team fight around Nashor sealed the fate of the game. Fnatic, winning this decisive battle, finally broke through the MAD Lions’ defense and won the round, thus leveling the score in the series.

Game 3

The third round between MAD Lions and Fnatic got off to a spectacular start, with MAD Lions quickly taking advantage of an explosive topplane team fight and getting three kills in the first minute. Elyoya, in particular, played a key role in this hot start, constantly putting pressure on Fnatic and putting his teammates in advantageous positions to dominate the laning phase. Fnatic was quick to respond, finding chances in the skirmishes and capitalizing on a few shutdowns, showing their ability to stay competitive despite a rough start. At 15 minutes into the game, the gold gap had dwindled to just 1k in favor of MAD, who nevertheless secured the first two dragons.

Gradually, Fnatic managed to catch up in terms of gold and level, and by the 23rd minute the two teams were practically level. In the 26th minute, an impressive engagement started by Frescovi with a stunning ult allowed MAD to score two more kills and secure Nashor in the process, intensifying his assault on the Fnatic base. Another Nashor was caught by MAD in the 33rd minute. On Fnatic’s Nexus offensive aided by Baron Buff, MAD reached T4, but was brutally stopped by Humanoid’s impressive damage, defeating MAD’s advance and keeping Fnatic in the game. The final face-off around the dragons was the scene of fresh exploits from Frescovi, whose superior play once again allowed MAD to dominate the final team fight, thus ensuring the round win.

Game 4

In the fourth round of Bo5, the opening of the game was marked by intense activity from both teams, with the first match point for MAD Lions. Fnatic held a slight advantage during the laning phase, capitalizing on opportunities better, while the MAD Lions were able to survive the race by punishing Fnatic for its positioning and decision-making errors. At 15 minutes the teams were level in terms of gold, but the MAD Lions held a slight advantage with two dragons secured. However, in the 17th minute, Fnatic managed to take advantage of better positioning during a topside teamfight, and took advantage of MAD Lions’ dispersion to win the encounter. The game intensified in the 19th minute around the Dragon Challenge, which sparked a lengthy team fight, resulting in numerous losses for both sides. Fnatic eventually got the upper hand, securing the objective and regaining the lead in golds, though dominance of the match was still inconclusive.

After several minutes of play focused on control and vision, a decisive team fight ensued in the 28th minute, which once again went slightly to Fnatic’s advantage, adding to the tension of the game. The battle for control of key objectives continued with decisive skirmishes around Nashor in the 34th minute and Dragon in the 35th minute. In the 37th minute, Fnatic secured their second nashor and began to exert significant pressure on the map, advancing towards the enemy base. The final team fight in the 40th minute saw a Fnatic win for Sol, who took the round and got back on the scoresheet for the 2nd time in this Bo5, keeping their hopes alive in the series.

Game 5

In the 5th and final installment of the series, Silverscraps, the tension was palpable from the first moments. Fnatic started well, quickly getting first blood, which laid the foundation. With a 2k gold lead at 10 minutes and the dragon already in their possession, Fnatic seems to have the advantage. However, the MAD Lions took advantage of Fnatic’s odds around the second Dragon, closing the gap before a quarter of an hour into the game. Both teams continued to battle fiercely throughout the laning phase, each making mistakes. In the 21st minute, Fnatic managed to take the first hit of the game, and soon after, secured the third dragon, significantly increasing their lead in terms of gold. While trying to push towards the enemy base to extend their lead, Fnatic was caught off guard by MAD’s effective split in the botlane.

Despite trailing by 4k gold, MAD Lions launched a bold midlane push in the 32nd minute, surprising Fnatic who seemed a bit disoriented by the initiative. The climax of the game came during a huge team fight, which was handily won by the MAD Lions. This decisive ace not only broke Fnatic’s last line of defense, but also paved the way for MAD Lions to win this close and decisive game of the series. This victory not only marks their success in the Bo5, but also their strength as a team, capable of winning under pressure, managing to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes to gain advantage.

In a thrilling series that stretched into the fifth and final round, MAD Lions KOI prevailed over Fnatic with a final score of 3-2. This decisive victory in the Silver Scraps match marked MAD Lions KOI’s qualification for the next round of the Loser’s Bracket, taking them to the Loser’s Bracket Finals where they would face Team BDS. For Fnatic, this loss marks the end of their journey in this LEC Winter Split playoffs, failing to make it onto the podium.