G2 Labrov on FlyQuest: “It would be nice to see if we can take our revenge”

G2 Esports are one win away from qualifying for the knockout stage at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship. The European champions currently hold a 2-1 record in the Swiss Stage, having recently defeated Bilibili Gaming, the team that eliminated them from the last two editions of Worlds.

“I’m quite happy we managed to win and bounce back from the rough start we had. I’m not super happy with our gameplay,” said Labros “Labrov” Papoutsakis in an interview with Jaxon. “I think our team comp was really hard winning and we would have to mess up really hard in order to lose this game – which we almost did.”

That victory was crucial for G2 not only to stay in the tournament, but also to demonstrate that they can perform under pressure and recover from challenging starts. G2’s next match will be against LTA North’s top seed, FlyQuest, a high-stakes EU vs. NA match that will determine which team advances to the knockout stage at Worlds 2025.

Recovery and preparation for the next match

Labrov said that G2 prepared for the match against BLG by focusing on their own strategy rather than trying to perfectly predict their opponent. And while the team managed to win, Labrov said G2 mismanaged several plays that allowed BLG to gain an early advantages, particularly around the early dragon fight.

“But our team is really good and we managed to bounce back despite the gold deficit,” Labrov said. “I just don’t think we played insanely well. But the result is what matters. I’m just looking forward to the future.”

G2 Esports after their victory against BLG at Swiss Stage on Oct. 18 (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

At the time of the interview it was not yet known that G2 would have to go up against FLY for their qualification match. Looking ahead Labrov identified which upcoming opponents could pose a difficult challenge, and FLY was among them.

“They mega embarrassed us at MSI, it would be nice to see if we can take our revenge at Worlds,” he said. “We just need to be strong ourselves and we can get out of Swiss.”

But over the years League has become a more complex game than what Labrov had started playing ten years ago. It is so complex that sometimes it is difficult for fans to understand what pro players do in game. “A lot of fans don’t understand the game as a proper player does. So that’s why they have their opinions. But at least I’m happy that hopefully I managed to change their opinion from day one,” Labrov concluded.

Mindset and Daily Routine of a G2 player

Over the past few years, many G2 players praised the teams’ coaching staff for their help in maintaining focus during the competition and improving daily. Labrov is among them.

“I really want to thank the coaching staff and performance coaches. Especially Isma — I feel like he knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I need in order to be in the best state possible to perform,”Labrov said.

He described the impact of routines covering sleep, nutrition, exercise, and emotional wellbeing and added that the team’s holistic approach to preparation — including communication and mindset training during scrims — has become an essential part of their daily practice.

Hans Sama (L) and Labrov (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Labrov also added that he and Steven “Hans Sama” Liv focus on mindset and coordination before every scrim or stage game, which helps him feel “more confident”. He added that after nearly ten years of competitive play, this experience and change in mindset have taught him to be a more competitive player.

“One day you could be considered the best player in the world and then the next day you just lose, you might be the worst player in the world,” Labrov continued. “So yeah, it’s a really imbalanced thing.” He stressed the importance of focusing on step-by-step goals and not overreacting to wins or losses.

Yet the games define a teams and a player’s career. But for Labrov, the losses can become sacrifices, “trade-offs” made to pursue what League players chase after.

“I think we sacrificed two LEC titles for sure this year, but if we end up winning Worlds, I think everyone would be really happy and we would say that it’s worth it.”

G2 will face FlyQuest in a critical EU vs. NA match that could determine who advances to the knockout stage. Labrov said the team stays focused on preparation and consistency, but many fans will be watching closely to see if G2 can finally overcome their history of falling short on the World stage.

Featured image: Aiksoon Lee/Riot Games