Fnatic has just been eliminated from the LEC Versus 2026 playoffs, finishing in 8th place in one of their worst splits to date. This organisation used to always field the team to beat. In recent years though, they’re never winning anything anymore. What happened to FNC? Why do Europe’s former kings never win anymore?
In League’s early years, there was a saying. “In the EU LCS [now LEC], everyone beats everyone, and in the end FNC wins”.
Fnatic started off winning the Season One World Championship. Then, as the EU LCS begun, the team in orange won five of the next six splits. This culminated in the first ever perfect split in 2015, where Fnatic went 18-0.
At the end of 2015, FNC had the best record at Worlds globally, with one trophy and another two top 4 finishes.
Fnatic finished 3rd-4th at Worlds 2013. Image Source: Riot Games
In 2016, G2 Esports joined the EU LCS. At the same time, Fnatic had a roster overhaul once more. This resulted in the team’s first fall from grace. After a third place in Spring then failing to qualify for Worlds, 2016 was FNC’s worst year.
Fnatic bounced back in 2017, getting third places regionally and a quarterfinals finish at Worlds. Afterwards, 2018 became their new best year. Winning both European splits, Fnatic was the runner-up at Worlds 2018.
2018 was Fnatic’s strongest year. Image Source: Riot Games
The next year, G2 took Caps from them. From that point on, FNC was always a second or third place team. Fnatic was always relevant both regionally and internationally, but could never win the LEC anymore – and never has since.
| Year | Tournament | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Worlds Season 1 | 1st |
| 2011 | IEM Season 6 New York | 1st |
| 2012 | IEM Season 6 World Championship | 9th-10th |
| 2012 | Champions 2012 Spring | 5th-8th |
| 2012 | IPL 5 | 2nd |
| 2012 | IEM Season 7 Cologne | 2nd |
| 2013 | IEM Season 7 Katowice | 3rd-4th |
| 2013 | IEM Season 7 World Championship | 9th-10th |
| 2013 | EU LCS 2013 Spring | 1st |
| 2013 | EU LCS 2013 Summer | 1st |
| 2013 | Worlds Season 3 | 3rd-4th |
| 2013 | IEM Season 8 Cologne Amateur | 2nd |
| 2014 | IEM Season 8 World Championship | 2nd |
| 2014 | EU LCS 2014 Spring | 1st |
| 2014 | All-Star 2014 Paris | 3rd-4th |
| 2014 | EU LCS 2014 Summer | 2nd |
| 2014 | Worlds 2014 | 12th-13th |
| 2015 | EU LCS 2015 Spring | 1st |
| 2015 | MSI 2015 | 3rd-4th |
| 2015 | EU LCS 2015 Summer | 1st |
| 2015 | Worlds 2015 | 3rd-4th |
| 2015 | IEM Season 10 Cologne | 3rd-4th |
| 2016 | IEM Season 10 World Championship | 2nd |
| 2016 | EU LCS 2016 Spring | 3rd |
| 2016 | EU LCS 2016 Summer | 5th-6th |
| 2017 | EU LCS 2017 Spring | 3rd |
| 2017 | EU LCS 2017 Summer | 3rd |
| 2017 | Worlds 2017 | 5th-8th |
| 2018 | EU LCS 2018 Spring | 1st |
| 2018 | MSI 2018 | 3rd-4th |
| 2018 | EU LCS 2018 Summer | 1st |
| 2018 | Worlds 2018 | 2nd |
| 2019 | LEC 2019 Spring | 3rd |
| 2019 | LEC 2019 Summer | 2nd |
| 2019 | Worlds 2019 | 5th-8th |
| 2020 | LEC 2020 Spring | 2nd |
| 2020 | LEC 2020 Summer | 2nd |
| 2020 | Worlds 2020 | 5th-8th |
| 2021 | LEC 2021 Spring | 5th |
| 2021 | LEC 2021 Summer | 2nd |
| 2021 | Worlds 2021 | 14th-16th |
| 2022 | LEC 2022 Spring | 3rd |
| 2022 | LEC 2022 Summer | 3rd |
| 2022 | Worlds 2022 | 9th-11th |
| 2023 | LEC 2023 Winter | 9th |
| 2023 | LEC 2023 Spring | 8th |
| 2023 | LEC 2023 Summer | 3rd |
| 2023 | Worlds 2023 | 9th-11th |
| 2024 | LEC 2024 Winter | 4th |
| 2024 | LEC 2024 Spring | 2nd |
| 2024 | MSI 2024 | 7th-8th |
| 2024 | LEC 2024 Summer | 2nd |
| 2024 | Worlds 2024 | 12th-14th |
| 2025 | LEC 2025 Winter | 3rd |
| 2025 | LEC 2025 Spring | 4th |
| 2025 | LEC 2025 Summer | 3rd |
| 2025 | Worlds 2025 | 15-16th |
| 2026 | LEC Versus 2026 | 8th |
Still, Fnatic’s fans of today wish they could go back to this 2019-2022 era. Despite not being able to win, they were always a relevant team. That stopped being the case in 2023.
So far, they’ve still managed to reach Worlds each year. However, there’s no more hope in them. No expectations of them keeping a strong level in the playoffs or internationally. No matter the roster, no matter the players, Fnatic always falls flat again. So what happened?
Fnatic is out of the LEC Versus 2026. Image Source: Wojciech Wandzel / Riot Games
Several players have made allegations about life in Fnatic.
In Summer 2025, after playing no more than 3 matches during the split, FNC Mikyx stated “Recently we may have slowed down a bit, probably also because we have already qualified for playoffs.”
Last week, former FNC mid laner Nemesis was asked if mids play better once they leave Fnatic. Nemesis responded “Probably, because they usually talk about how they’re depressed when they’re there – and then they leave and they’re usually happier”.
Similarly, Fnatic’s coach Grabbz also reported that the players don’t have a habit of talking to each other after scrims. Grabbz added that the team has a staff of four people and that each member has to take on some extra duty.
Former FNC jungler Broxah commented that a team can have:
An org with the reputation of Fnatic can have an easier time acquiring talented players, which should facilitate winning more. These allegations of having barely any staff and a demotivating environment shed a lot of light on why FNC keeps failing in spite of that.
Featured Image Source: Riot Games
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