The 2024 League of Legends EMEA Championship Winter has come and gone, marking a thrilling conclusion to the first split of the newly merged region.
From January 13th to February 18th, 10 teams representing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa battled for dominance, etching their names in the ever-evolving narrative of professional LoL.
This split ushered in a revamped format, replacing the traditional round robin stage with a single round robin group stage followed by double elimination playoffs.
This change aimed to increase the intensity and unpredictability of the competition, and boy, did it deliver!
The Group Stage
The group stage was a crucible of competitive fire. Familiar rivals like Fnatic and G2 Esports locked horns, while rising stars like Karmine Corp and Unicorns of Love challenged the established order.
Upsets abounded, with underdogs like MOUZ briefly topping Group A and Team BDS sending tremors through Group B.
Emerging from the chaos were Rogue, the reigning LEC champions, and Misfits Gaming, who defied expectations with their dominant display. Both teams finished the group stage undefeated, a testament to their strategic prowess and individual skill.
The Playoff Crucible
The playoffs were a pressure cooker, where every mistake amplified under the unforgiving glare of the spotlight. Rogue, seeking to cement their legacy, navigated the upper bracket with surgical precision.
Meanwhile, Misfits, fueled by the momentum of their group stage performance, clawed their way through the lower bracket, eliminating Team Vitality and Fnatic in close-fought battles.
The grand finals brought these two titans together in a clash for the ages. Rogue, boasting veterans like Odoamne and Larssen, entered as favourites.
Misfits, however, were unfased, their fearless aggression led by the explosive bot lane duo of Vetheo and Zven.
The Grand Finals
The grand finals were a symphony of skill, strategy, and sheer willpower. Game 1 was a masterclass in objective control, with Rogue securing key dragons and Baron to claim the first victory.
Misfits responded with a dominant Game 2, showcasing their superior teamfighting prowess and Vetheo’s mastery of LeBlanc.
The next two games were nail-biters, each decided by the slimmest of margins. Rogue unleashed their patented late-game scaling in Game 3, while Misfits countered with a surprise early aggression in Game 4.
As the series went to a deciding fifth game, the tension in the air was thicker than a Sion ultimate.
