2022 LEC Summer Playoffs: Fnatic Reverse Sweep Excel

Fnatic reverse sweep Excel in a thrilling 5 game series, eliminating the hopeful underdogs and keeping themselves barely afloat within their turbulent year.

The Best Nilah in the World?

What a game out of Patrik as Excel clutches out Game 1 against Fnatic in what was the best Nilah performance I have seen worldwide since the new champion’s release!

Patrik was sublime on the somewhat ineffective pick, finding crucial AOE ultimates and playing out isolated 1v1s flawlessly, giving Excel the space they desperately needed to overcome Razork’s great early game on the Poppy and eventually find the win against Fnatic.

Patrik > Upset

Game 2 was yet another beatdown from Excel as Fnatic got caught out of position to the CC from Sejuani and Twisted Fate, giving Excel the freedom to stack neutrals.

The Kled and Twisted Fate comp drafted by Excel worked very well for their strategy to play around their superstar Patrik, with Finn sacrificing early waves in order to ult down the bot lane and lend them a helping hand. Patrik paid the loan back with interest as he completely took over teamfights on the Sivir, far outperforming Upset so far in this series.

Wunder’s Gragas Saves Fnatic From Sweep!

Fnatic hold by the skin of their teeth in Game 3 following Wunder’s clutch barrel which knocked Patrik into the turret and secured the win for Fnatic.

They were on the verge of being swept when their comeback was stifled by Markoon picking off Upset in the last pivotal teamfight, but Wunder and Razork played the final exchange beautifully and forced themselves into a Game 4.

Mikyx and Nukeduck were big liabilities on the Excel side, as their mispositionings is what gave Fnatic the chance to wedge themselves back into the game.

The Nilah Falls Flat

Nilah fell flat for Patrik in Game 4 despite his early momentum on the pick, getting caught out in teamfights at melee range given Fnatic’s laser focus onto him.

Fnatic pick up the win off of heroics from Razork, the much-maligned player of this team, finding crucial skirmishes and Baron steals to keep his team in the game long enough for Nukeduck to make a few misplays on the Ahri, allowing Fnatic to force a Game 5 and threaten the reverse sweep.

Razork Leads the Way

Disappointing series out of Excel as they completely capitulate in Game 5 and fail to close out Fnatic despite being 2-0 up on them in the series.

I think Razork deserves Series MVP for his clutch playmaking as well as his early game pressure that enabled Fnatic to go toe-to-toe with Excel’s famed mid/jg comp, eventually creating enough space for his carry Upset to pop off in teamfights.

Nukeduck and Markoon, while having decent series of their own, did not generate the early game leads they were known for in the regular season, leaving most of the impetus to carry onto Patrik, where he fell short this time around.