Royal Never Give Up vs Fnatic

If Fnatic end up making even remotely competitive, we'll be impressed beyond measure. There's just no other way to put it, really. The fact that they had lost their starting marksman a day or two before stepping foot on stage in Reykjavik, Iceland is no doubt a severe blow that'll be felt for the weeks and months to come. No one saw it coming and, needless to say, it has crippled their chances of not only leaving a mark but even getting out of groups. That's the most crushing thing — at first there was the potential of success, the faint promise of a stellar run, perhaps one that was in tune with what most folks expect from the boys in black and orange.

Now, though, it's best to not expect anything at all seeing how will basically be deemed an underdog in each and every single game going forward. And, well, there's a good reason why.

We saw their play against Hanwha Life Esports and, needless to say, they did not look good. In fact, there was nothing to really praise them for, other than a few standout individual moments. They were out of sync, they made numerous individual mistakes, and had seemed lost and without a gameplan. Their first initial play — the one that gave Bwipo a noticeable edge in the early game — was quickly neutralized by Hanwha, and Fnatic basically did nothing about it. They were out of their element, and if they failed to play even remotely well against LCK's fourth-best team, then there's really no way they'll be able to accomplish much against the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational champions and a line-up that is stacked from head to toe with some of the best players who have ever taken flesh.

Fnatic pretty much went from being a shoo-in to get out of groups, to a bottom-tier dweller that basically stands no chance whatsoever. They could still pull off an upset (perhaps even two), but anything more than that seems nigh remote and overly optimistic. They're outmatched and outgunned, and Royal Never Give Up — should they play as well as we expect them to — won't struggle much in their quest for triumph.

Now, all of this might seem doom-and-gloom, but it's fact, and is rooted in very tangible results, too. Upset might not be the most important component of Fnatic, but he *was* invaluable, especially in terms of their overall synergy and cohesion. Without his exquisite late game performances — and early game stability — Fnatic are nowhere near as dangerous. And, well, it has also affected Hylissang's ability to roam and impact the map, something for which he is so well known for. A single roster change (especially one made overnight) can naturally have a huge, sweeping effect on a team and its performance, and we're seeing that with Fnatic as well. Whether they'll improve over time remains to be seen, but the odds are certainly stacked against them. Heck, we're putting it mildly here.

So, naturally, siding with Royal Never Give Up is the only logical option.