The 2025 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) has unfolded with dramatic shifts that highlight a changing landscape in international League of Legends competition. Europe’s hopes, carried by G2 Esports and Movistar KOI (MKOI), were dashed early, while the titans of the LCK and LPL regions, Gen.G Esports and Anyone’s Legend (AL), engaged in a fierce back-and-forth series that ultimately saw Gen.G advance. This tournament is proving to be a pivotal moment, signaling new power dynamics and the rise of fresh contenders on the global stage.
EMEA’s representatives, G2 Esports and MKOI, entered MSI 2025 with high expectations. Historically, the European region (LEC) has been the West’s beacon in international tournaments, boasting both a World Championship and MSI title thanks to legendary teams like Fnatic and G2. Their legacy has long been a source of pride and belief that Europe could stand toe-to-toe with the dominant Asian regions. However, this year’s MSI has been a harsh reminder that past glories don’t guarantee future success.
G2 Esports, once the embodiment of European strength and ambition, suffered a swift and decisive 3-0 sweep at the hands of North America’s FlyQuest (FLY) in a tense NA vs EU showdown. The series opened with a tight but telling Game 1, where FlyQuest’s jungler Kacper ‘Inspired’ Słoma outshone G2’s rookie Rudy ‘SkewMond’ Semaan, who was making his international debut under immense pressure. Inspired’s mastery was a key factor, as he outplayed SkewMond and set the tone for the entire series.
FlyQuest’s disciplined team play was relentless. Even when G2 found small openings, such as Labrov Papoutsakis catching Fahad ‘Massu’ Abdulmalek mid lane or Rasmus ‘Caps’ Winther securing three dragons, FLY’s superior vision control and objective management kept the gold lead steady. A pivotal moment came when Massu stole Baron, effectively sealing the game and the series. Game 2 saw G2 attempt to rally with early aggression and coordinated skirmishes, but FlyQuest’s calm and calculated responses, powered by Inspired’s Wukong and Busio’s Bard, punished every mistake. The final game was a masterclass in map control and rotations by FlyQuest, who maintained pressure and systematically dismantled G2’s defenses.
For G2, this defeat is more than a loss; it’s a stark indication that their storied legacy is under threat. The once-dominant kings of Europe must now rebuild and adapt if they hope to reclaim their spot on the world stage, with the World Championship later this year their next chance to prove themselves.
Meanwhile, Movistar KOI, the LEC’s first seed and a team carrying the hopes of Europe’s next generation, faced a historic challenge against CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) from the LCP region. CFO’s victory over MKOI marked the first time since 2012 that an LCP team defeated a major region team in a best-of-five series, underscoring a significant shift in competitive balance.
The series began with CFO establishing dominance through superior macro play and sharp laning. Tsai ‘HongQ’ Ming-hong’s Azir was particularly impressive in Game 1, finishing with a flawless 6-0-3 KDA and leading the charge in punishing MKOI’s mistakes. CFO’s control of the map and objectives allowed them to close out the game cleanly. Game 2 saw Chiu ‘Doggo’ Tzu-Chuan’s Jhin shine with a staggering 10-0-8 score, dominating team fights and applying relentless pressure. Although MKOI fought back fiercely in Game 3, securing crucial objectives and team fights, CFO’s methodical play returned in Game 4, where they controlled the map and decisively shut down MKOI to seal the series.
This defeat is a sobering moment for MKOI and the LEC, highlighting that the international League of Legends scene is evolving rapidly. New contenders like CFO, once considered underdogs, are now rising to challenge established powers, signaling a more competitive and unpredictable future.
On the other side of the bracket, the clash between South Korea’s Gen.G Esports and China’s Anyone’s Legend was a showcase of high-level play and strategic depth. The best-of-five series was a rollercoaster, with both teams demonstrating why they are considered among the world’s elite.
Game 1 was a scrappy affair with the Grubs fight evenly matched, but Anyone’s Legend found extra kills and forced a critical dive onto Gen.G’s Ruler at 27 minutes. Gen.G’s macro play in Game 2 was more measured, with Canyon securing the first blood kill and the team slowly building a gold lead. They earned the Atakan and secured Hextech’s soul, crucial objectives that set the pace. Despite Anyone’s Legend forcing a Baron attempt, Gen.G’s control and execution allowed them to catch their opponents and end the game, tying the series.
Game 3 saw Canyon dive Flandre for first blood again, while Anyone’s Legend secured the Grubs objective and denied Gen.G the soul point, even securing the Atakan after catching Ruler out of position. However, Gen.G won the soul point fight and pushed through to victory. Game 4 was marked by intense fights, with Tarzan killing Duro and Anyone’s Legend engaging Ruler on the Infernal Soul point to deny Drake stacking. Anyone’s Legend broke open the game with a Baron take, showing their resilience.
The decisive Game 5 featured early aggression from Canyon, who secured first blood on Shanks. Gen.G dominated the Grubs objective and team fights, with Duro’s crucial hooks on Hope and Tarzan enabling key Drake and Ocean Soul fights. Gen.G’s step-by-step dismantling of Anyone’s Legend culminated in a series win, advancing them further in MSI. They now await the victor of the T1 and BLG series, while Anyone’s Legend will face the winner of CTBC Flying Oyster and Movistar KOI.
The 2025 MSI has thus far underlined a pivotal truth: the global League of Legends scene is in flux. The traditional powerhouses of Europe are struggling to maintain their foothold, while emerging teams from regions like North America, Latin America, and the Pacific are making significant strides. Meanwhile, the perennial giants from Korea and China continue to showcase their strength, though not without challenges.
For fans and analysts alike, this tournament is a thrilling spectacle of evolving strategies, rising stars, and shifting allegiances. As MSI progresses, the question remains: which teams will adapt and rise to define the next era of international League of Legends dominance?
