10 years of streak over.
This defeat eliminates Fnatic from the LEC Summer Split before playoffs, closing off the last route to a Worlds through Europe's remaining three places.
A ten-year run of Worlds appearances, and Fnatic had reached the postseason in every LEC season since the league's 2013 formation. Thirteen years, no exceptions, until now. They are not there anymore.
Not one bad series
The framing of a single upset is just plain wrong in this case.
Fnatic finished 8th at LEC Versus and 7th in Spring, missing playoffs both times. Summer made it three, in a season where they were never really in contention for anything.
The roster was rebuilt for 2026. Oscarinin, Humanoid and Mikyx out. Vladi, Empyros and Lospa in. When that didn't work, Empyros was dropped mid-season for South Korean top laner Soboro, whose LCK experience with HANJIN BRION and BNK FEARX was limited, with most of his development coming through LCK Challengers, where he won the title with FEARX Youth last year.
Two transfer windows, six changes, and nothing.
What it costs Europe
Fnatic have been at Worlds since it began, they are a staple. They won the inaugural event in 2011, and their presence has been one of the region's fixed points ever since, alongside G2.
Worlds 2026 goes ahead without them. Bookmakers had Movistar KOI took the third and final European spot before the split concluded, with G2 and Karmine Corp taking the other slots.
GIANTX, meanwhile, keep going and they have a bracket run ahead of them.
Fnatic have until the next split to work out what happened.
More:Fnatic's Sale Talks Mark the End of Founder-Owned Esports
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