G2 Esports Left Scrambling At MSI As Saigon Buffalo Pulls Off Big Upset

With the manner in which G2 Esports had kicked off its Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2022, nobody would have guessed that the team would find itself in a tight spot on the last two days of the Rumble Stage. Its hot streak of wins quickly turned into a losing streak for the European squad. After Saigon Buffalo (SGB) took down PSG Talon yesterday on 23rd May, G2’s chances of making the knockouts became a bit hopeful.

Going into this match, a win would lock in G2’s spot in the next stage of the tournament and also push the team towards a shot at a second-place tie-breaker at the end of the day if it goes 2-0 today. For Saigon Buffalo, whose run has already come to an end, is playing a completely different game with no brakes. On Day 4, it almost took down Royal Never Give Up (RNG) and showed its potential on the Summoner’s Rift.

The outcome of this match was very surprising and unexpected as Saigon Buffalo completely demolished G2’s lineup and broke its nexus into smithereens in just 26 minutes.

G2 brought a specialty pick in the Anivia for Rasmus "caPs" Borregaard Winther in mid-lane but both teams had creative picks like Renata Glasc and Gwen jungle among others.

Jankos gets first blood yet again

Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski ganked top-lane and picked up a kill on Aatrox with an assist from Sergen "Broken Blade" Çelik, Meanwhile, Trần "Bean J" Văn Chính killed caPs with his Gwen and helped out Bùi "Froggy" Văn Minh Hải. SGB’s bottom lane was very much discussed in the groups and once again the duo picked up a kill on Raphaël "Targamas" Crabbé, thanks to Đinh "Taki" Anh Tài’s Renata and Nguyễn "Shogun" Văn Huy’s Xayah.

First objectives picked up by SGB

With its bottom lane having priority, SGB capitalized on it and secured the dragon. However, G2 hovered over the Rift Herald upon its spawn and secured it. A massive team fight broke out in the bottom lane at 9 minutes, and Saigon Buffalo came out ahead with three kills and also the first tower gold. Victor "Flakked" Lirola Tortosa’s Kai’Sa has been very strong this tournament but was completely punished and shut down in this battle. At 11 minutes, the Saigon Buffalo roster had a lead of 3K gold with G2’s only working lane being the top lane. In the following minutes, the Vietnamese squad picked up the second Herald of the game and pressed on its advantages.

Saigon Buffalo tramples on G2

After winning a scrappy fight with Lâm "Hasmed" Huỳnh Gia Huy’s Aatrox, Saigon Buffalo collected its third dragon and pushed for the Dragon Soul point. G2 was scrambling to get out of its own jungle in that fight. At the Dragon soul point, G2 lost two of its key members but Jankos made a hero play by stealing the dragon. However, SGB turned to Baron Nashor with G2’s jungler dead and picked it up at 24 minutes. Yet another forced fight by G2, cost the European squad its base in under 26 minutes. Following this game, T1 comfortably locked in its Knockout stage spot and three teams are contesting for the last two spots.