After a troublesome loss towards G2 Esports, Gen.G Duro mirrored on their drafting selections and what wants to alter shifting ahead.
At The First Stand 2026, something can occur, and Gen.G’s loss to G2 was not a part of many predictions, but it grew to become a actuality. It has been 2,323 days since G2 final reached a world Grand Ultimate, and now they’ve an opportunity to assert a title for a area that hasn’t seen one since 2019.
On the opposite aspect, in an interview with esports.gg, Gen.G Joo “Duro” Min-kyu shared his perspective on how drafting selections impacted the sequence, whereas additionally praising the opposing jungler for his efficiency. He additionally mentioned what the staff wants to enhance forward of the upcoming cut up, in addition to his expertise enjoying alongside Ruler and their synergy.
I believe SkewMond did an ideal job. He invaded our jungle stage one, took camps, after which got here straight to the bot lane. He was the one who had the most important affect on the sport.
Gen.G Duro
The drafting selections
Gen.G’s 0–3 loss to G2 got here as a shock to many. To know what went incorrect for the Korean staff, it’s value taking a look at their draft selections. Within the first sport, Gen.G went for the Ashe–Seraphine duo, with Seraphine as a primary decide. With Nautilus nonetheless obtainable, it was a threat they had been prepared to take, as they didn’t count on the lane to wrestle a lot towards Miss Fortune and Nautilus.
“To begin with, I believe SkewMond did an ideal job. He invaded our jungle stage one, took camps, after which got here straight to the bot lane,” Gen.G Duro defined. “He was the one who had the most important affect on the sport. Clearly, dealing with Nautilus with our draft was going to be laborious, and the gank snowballed it.”
As for the Vayne prime decide within the second sport, Duro defined that the staff thought of it a powerful alternative internally. He added that the primary points got here from their gameplay, moderately than the draft itself. Even the Kog-Lulu decide by G2 within the final sport was predictable, Duro acknowledged. “We had been conscious of that chance, since G2 performs many champions we don’t normally see within the LCK.”
For Duro, Labrov was very impactful within the bot lane as effectively. “We tried to concentrate on the bot lane by the Kog-Lulu combo, and I believe they did a greater job,” he mentioned. “Our try to develop on the match was blocked by them.”
After this sequence, Duro emphasised that an important lesson was that if the staff will get countered by the opponent’s picks, they need to focus extra on their very own compositions. “I really feel like there are a whole lot of key takeaways from right this moment’s match towards G2.”
Gen.G Duro on his expertise in Brazil and enjoying with Ruler
“We didn’t exit a lot, however it was very completely different from what I had anticipated,” Gen.G Duro added. “It was so peaceable. We had been capable of roam round comfortably in the course of the day.”
Whereas his teammate Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon highlighted the time zone variations as one of many essential challenges in Brazil, Duro discovered adapting to the meals extra uncomfortable. “I don’t assume the meals actually suited my style, which was unlucky for me.”
Now that Duro has been with Gen.G for over a 12 months and has prolonged his contract till the top of 2026, he mirrored on how a lot he has discovered with the staff. “To be sincere, I believe we nonetheless have a protracted technique to go. Ruler and I nonetheless want to enhance our synergy, however there’s loads of room for development, so I’m not too involved.”
An excellent day for G2
For G2 Esports, March 21 felt like a dream. Their victory over Gen.G within the First Stand 2026 semifinals marked their first qualification for a world remaining in 2,323 days. Their final look was on the 2019 League of Legends World Championship, the place they fell brief towards FunPlus Phoenix. Rasmus “Caps” Borregaard Winther is the one member of the 2019 roster nonetheless within the group.
That is additionally the primary time a LCK staff gained’t be current at a world occasion’s finals in practically three years. The final time was within the MSI 2023, the place JDG defeated BLG and secured the title.
The First Stand 2026 Grand Finals will probably be taking place on March 22, at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. CET. G2 Esports will probably be enjoying towards Bilibili Gaming, which has defeated JDG and secured its spot on the finals.
