Why is Fnatic struggling in the 2020 LEC Summer Split?

The final week of the2020 LEC Summer Split approaches, revealing significant performance issues for one of Europe’s most storied organizations. Fnatic’s usual dominance has evaporated, placing their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy with elimination looming.

Since establishing themselves as European powerhouses by winning the inaugural 2011 World Championship, Fnatic has consistently maintained top-tier status. Their trophy cabinet includes multiple domestic championships and respectable international showings, but the current season threatens to break this established pattern of success.

Despite reaching the Spring Split finals againstG2 Esports, the Summer Split presents entirely different challenges. Their previous achievements become irrelevant if they fail to secure playoff qualification, which serves as the mandatory gateway to the 2020 World Championship.

With only three matches remaining in week 8, Fnatic occupies a precarious position at 7-8. Immediate threats includeMisfits,Team Vitality, andOrigen, all trailing by just one game and equally determined to claim playoff spots. Even securing fifth or sixth seed presents difficulties, as it would force Fnatic to navigate the treacherous losers’ bracket path.

Why is Fnatic losing in the LEC?

When established powerhouses like Fnatic encounter regional difficulties, intense scrutiny follows from both supporters and analysts. Pinpointing exact causes proves challenging, as performance slumps typically stem from multiple interconnected factors rather than single issues.

Inconsistency isn’t unfamiliar territory for this organization. The 2019 Spring Split began with an 0-4 deficit before they recovered to secure third place. However, the current pattern differs significantly, with erratic performances occurring during crucial late-split matches that directly impact playoff seeding.

League-wide competitiveness has intensified considerably since the previous split. Emerging squads likeMAD LionsandRoguenow lead the standings, while lower-ranked teams consistently produce surprising upsets. The era of guaranteed victories has ended, transforming every match into a genuine test, even for veteran rosters like Fnatic’s.

Meta-game fluctuations significantly impact Fnatic’s performance, as they’ve failed to establish a coherent strategic identity across recent patches. Experimental approaches to late-game teamfight compositions haven’t yielded success, with coordination breakdowns becoming increasingly apparent. Attempts to leverage star player Martin “Rekkles” Larsson on mage or support-oriented champions haven’t provided effective solutions either.

Community speculation often attributes performance declines to offseason roster and coaching adjustments, despite Spring Split results contradicting this narrative. Former coach Michael “Veteran” Archer publicly dismissed these theories, emphasizing that roster stability isn’t the primary issue, but rather unidentified underlying problems requiring diagnosis.

FNATIC were undoubtably the relatively strongest team in the LEC THIS SPRING for a long-ass time. Not last year. This is POST the changes.

They have a strong lineup, it just isn’t working right now and identifying why it worked then and why it isn’t now is what is needed.

— Veteran (@VeteranEU) August 2, 2020

Fnatic continues their playoff qualification battle during week 8 of the 2020 LEC Summer Split, where every team competes in their final three regular-season matches.

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