Within the first sport of the 2023 LEC Winter Cut up, two league favorites in Excel and G2 Esports squared off, with G2’s new-look roster taking the sport over the heavily-hyped Excel squad in simply over half-hour.
Right now’s sport served as a landmark for the G2 group, because it was the primary time in 408 video games that the staff’s tenured veteran Jankos was not featured within the beginning lineup. The All-Professional jungler and G2 parted ways this past offseason, marking the tip of a five-year run. In his stead, G2 picked up rookie substitute Yike, who got here out of the gate swinging in at present’s contest.
The 22-year-old LFL product instantly made his presence within the sport (and within the LEC, for that matter) identified by carrying G2 with a placing 8/1/3 efficiency on Graves.
Within the backside lane, the staff launched its new AD carry in European veteran Hans Sama, whereas reintroducing its one-time help Mikyx, who performed for G2 between 2019 and 2021. Mikyx performed for Excel through the 2022 season, so at present’s contest was a little bit of a “revenge sport” for the well-traveled help.
Ultimately, Mikyx and Hans Sama mixed for a complete scoreline of 4/6/15, with their Ashe/Heimerdinger backside lane contributing to G2’s crowd management and sustained damage-focused staff composition.
As for Excel, the staff changed 4/fifths of its starting lineup this offseason, signing solo lane powerhouses in Odoamne and Vetheo, whereas additionally making a G2-centric swap on the help place by bringing in Targamas. Sadly, the shiny, new roster lined with one-time All-Professionals and MVPs obtained off to a sluggish begin and confronted a 3,000 gold deficit on the 15-minute mark of this sport.
For the reason that new format of the LEC season will solely function a single round-robin, G2 and Excel—who’re each favored to make deep playoff runs—can’t meet once more till the postseason, on the earliest.
