MSI 2025: The survival battle between GAM and G2

The MSI 2025 Play-In Stage is slowly coming to an end and all eyes are now on the fateful match between GAM and G2 Esports (G2). This is not just a knockout match but also a confrontation between the two top representatives of the East and the West.

GAM Esports - The hope of Vietnamese Esports at MSI 2025

The Vietnamese representative - now part of the LCP (Asia- Pacific Alliance) region - came to MSI 2025 with high expectations. Despite losing quickly to BLG, GAM promptly proved their mettle with a 3-2 comeback victory over FUR - the team that had dragged G2 all the way to game 5.

GAM came back 2-3 against FUR - Photo: CTV

GAM came to MSI 2025 with a lineup that was considered balanced between experience and youth: Kiaya - Levi - Emo/Aress - Artemis - Elio. The tactical highlight was in the mid lane, where they could alternate between Emo or Aress depending on the strategy of each game.

The center of the team is still Levi - an experienced jungler with the ability to read the map and organize extremely stable fights. He and Kiaya, a stable top laner, form the main coordination axis for the early and mid game.

In the lower half of the map, Artemis - Elio is a couple that is not too outstanding compared to MSI's level, but plays well together and is always ready to unleash their strength in teamfights.

However, GAM's inherent weakness still lies in the late game. Once they lose the initiative or are pulled back to the late game, GAM easily falls into a passive position and loses the rhythm of the game - something that has cost them in many previous MSIs.

G2 Esports - Experience, Variation and Turnaround Ability

Without Yike on the roster, G2 brought a new name to the jungle position at MSI this year: SkewMond - a rookie from BDS Academy. Despite playing at the international level for the first time, SkewMond quickly integrated and coordinated well with pillars like Caps, Hans Sama and BrokenBlade.

Caps is still the soul of G2's gameplay - the mid laner with creative play, the ability to roam and cause disruption. When Caps has space, G2 often controls the game well. Hans Sama - Labrov in the bot lane is an experienced duo, ready to punish the smallest mistakes.

G2 are not known for their quick snowballs, but they are extremely dangerous in the mid-late game. Clever macro, precise objective control, and the ability to turn the game around have become the trademarks of the LEC representative.

Golden opportunity for GAM to continue

Despite having an experienced squad, G2 is not in good form in this tournament. The loss to BLG exposed many weaknesses in their teamfight organization and tactical operation. Key players like Caps and Hans Sama are showing signs of decline, while SkewMond, despite his efforts, has not been able to completely replace the influence that Yike left behind.

If GAM can control the early game well and take advantage of G2's instability, they can completely end the game before G2 can adapt.

This is not just a match for the ticket to continue - but also an opportunity for GAM to affirm that the LCP region is capable of competing fairly with long-standing forces like the LEC.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/msi-2025-cuoc-chien-song-con-giua-gam-va-g2-185250629104109546.htm