G2 Esports experienced a challenging beginning at MSI 2025, narrowly avoiding elimination in the Play-In stage after securing a victory against GAM Esports in an exhilarating five-game series.

«The key issue has been our tempo. We failed to play aggressively and found ourselves reacting rather than taking the initiative. At this level of competition, that becomes apparent very quickly,» commented G2 jungler Rudy «SkewMond» Semaan in an interview with Sheep Esports, discussing the team’s performance at MSI 2025.

The League player indicated that factors such as «rotations and base timings» contributed to the team’s close call in the early phase of the tournament. However, SkewMond is optimistic that upcoming team reviews will enhance their adaptability as the competition progresses. G2 faced two 3-2 matches against FURIA and GAM Esports, with both contests culminating in a decider. They also suffered a loss to Bilibili Gaming with a score of 3-0, which left fans anxious about their prospects in the tournament.

According to statistics from Oracle’s Elixir, SkewMond recorded the highest number of kills among all junglers during MSI 2025 Play-ins. His impact has been pivotal in helping the team secure vital victories to remain competitive in the event.

Looking ahead, G2 aims to recover from their lackluster performances in the Bracket stage. They will be up against Gen.G, the reigning MSI champions, which signifies that the European squad must deliver their best in order to have a chance against the formidable Korean team.

Meanwhile, Europe’s other representative, Movistar KOI, will take on Bilibili Gaming in their opening match at MSI, with hopes of pulling off an upset against the Chinese team. Regardless of the outcomes, both teams will have a chance to fight back in the losers’ bracket before possibly heading home.