MSI 2026 Team Preview: G2 Esports Carrying the EU Banner And the EU Hope

|
By:Devin Morris
The MSI 2026 Logo

G2 Esports shocked everyone at First Stand this year. After a lackluster first two series, they turned it around and won 6-0 against the LCK to reach the final. They come into MSI as the dark horses, looking to dethrone the Eastern dominance. No Western team has lifted an international trophy since G2 Esports did it at the 2019 MSI. With domestic competition pushing them to their limits, can G2 Esports ascend to greatness?

G2 Esports’ Roster

G2 won LEC Spring to qualify for MSI
Image of G2 winning the LEC Spring, courtesy of LEC/LoL Esports
  • German Top Laner – Sergen “BrokenBlade” Çelik
  • French Jungler – Rudy “SkewMond” Semaan
  • Danish Mid Laner – Rasmus “Caps” Borregaard Winther
  • French Bot Laner – Steven “Hans Sama” Liv
  • Greek Support – Labros “Labrov” Papoutsakis

G2 Esports has kept the same roster since the beginning of 2025. It was not easy going for the roster, as they were the only ones to win a split last year and had an awful showing at MSI 2025. They almost lost to both FURIA and GAM Esports in the Play-Ins. They have improved since then and are now the hope of the West heading into the tournament.

Going For Gold

In recent years, most of G2 Esports’ international success has been due to Caps. He has been the cornerstone of the roster for years now. First Stand was a shift away from that narrative. Caps was the worst-performing player on the roster against FearX and Gen.G Esports. He came right in the Grand Final, but G2 Esports’ reliance on Caps is no more. SkewMond and Labrov have finally connected and are a force to be reckoned with.

Hans Sama finally showed why G2 Esports has put their trust in him over the years. If the First Stand G2 Esports roster shows up at MSI, the Eastern teams will need to be at their best. Of course, it is still a tall order for the European first seed. The Eastern teams will all present unique challenges for G2 Esports. Their first matchup against Top Esports will be a good indicator of how the rest of the tournament will go. On paper, Top Esports is the weakest Eastern roster. If G2 Esports can not get past them, they might not even get a top-four finish.

Key Player – Rudy “SkewMond” Semaan

Champions Played in Spring 2026

  • Xin Zhao (8)
  • Pantheon (6)
  • Skarner (5)
  • Olaf (4)
  • Nocturne (3)
  • Vi (2)
  • Wukong (2)
  • Trundle (2)
  • Lee Sin (2)
  • Aatrox (2)
  • Jarvan IV (2)
  • Naafiri (2)
  • Maokai
  • Nasus

Rising to Prominence

SkewMond had a tall order: replacing Martin “Yike” Sundelin at the start of the 2025 campaign. He found his footing domestically, but struggled on the international stage. The 2026 First Stand was his breakout international performance. Not only did he go toe to toe with Eastern junglers, but he bested Canyon by a mile in their series. He had struggled a bit against XUN, but still left his stamp on the series.

SkewMond will need to regain that level if G2 Esports stands a chance at MSI. Competing with XUN again, and the likes of Kanavi and Oner, SkewMond has his work cut out for him. Those are not the only Junglers he must watch out for. Players like Tatu and Hizto can dominate games. SkewMond can not afford to drop the ball.

G2 Esports Expectations

G2 Esports qualified for MSI
Image of G2 qualifying for MSI, courtesy of LoL Esports

G2 Esports are the dark horses to lift the MSI trophy. They have an outside chance, but can defeat any Eastern team on their day. Perhaps the more likely prediction is for G2 Esports to finish in the top four. Top Esports is very beatable for the LEC first seed. Anything lower than finishing in the top six will be a disappointment for this roster. It is hard to see how they should be happy with losing to a non-LPL or LCK team, given their recent First Stand performance.

Top Esports Rivalry Continues

G2 Esports starts in the Bracket Stage. They will face Top Esports in their first series of the tournament. The two teams have faced each other in two best-of-five series in the past two years. G2 Esports won at MSI 2024, and Top Esports won at Worlds 2025. It is a winnable series for G2, but they will need to start MSI on the right foot.

More LoL Esports Content

Below is all the previous MSI content on the Total Apex. You can expect more MSI articles in the following weeks.

Devin Morris is a Gaming Writer and Esports Editor for Total Apex Media. Devin is a gaming fanatic from little old South Africa. Devin has had a passion for gaming and writing from a young age. Devin's early favorites were Age of Empires, FIFA and Need for Speed games. As Devin grew older he moved into more competitive gaming, focusing on Overwatch, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. Devin also sinks way too many hours into Destiny 2!

Loading...