The first split of LEC 2025 concluded with a series of unexpected results that affected the balance of power in the region. The tournament introduced new names and showed that even favorites can face challenges. In this article, we will review the main surprises and disappointments of LEC Winter 2025.

Unexpected Triumph

The main sensation was the victory of Karmine Corp. In the group stage, they lost only one series, finishing in second place. In the playoffs, they were stopped only by G2 Esports in the upper bracket final, where the game was lost at the draft stage. However, this defeat allowed the coaching staff to better prepare for the Fearless Draft system, which helped Karmine Corp take revenge on G2 in the grand final, not dropping a single map.

This victory is historic for the club. For the first time in history, Karmine Corp became LEC champions and for the first time earned the right to play in an international tournament. Before this, they twice finished the season in 10th place, and in the summer split of 2024, they were just one game short of qualifying for Worlds.

One of the key factors in their success was the winter roster overhaul, particularly the strengthening with ADC Caliste, whom the club promoted from its own academy. This allowed Karmine Corp to expand their champion pool and adapt to new meta strategies, which proved decisive in the final part of the tournament.

Biggest Disappointments of the Tournament 

Fnatic became one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament. They took first place in the group stage, losing only one game, but in the playoffs fell to the lower bracket in the second round, losing to G2 without a chance. In the lower bracket, the team continued to fight but eventually lost to Karmine Corp.

Another major disappointment of LEC Winter 2025 was the team KOI. They showed excellent results at Worlds 2024, as the third place in LEC, and strengthened with mid laner Jojopyun in the off-season. They looked quite confident, but their performance did not meet expectations. As a result, KOI took fourth place in the group stage, and in the playoffs lost without a chance to Karmine Corp in the upper bracket, and then to Fnatic in the lower bracket.

A notable moment was the incident after the match between KOI and Fnatic, when Fnatic's ADC Upset refused to shake hands with Jojopyun and Supa due to their comments in the general chat. After this, Supa lightly pushed the Fnatic player, sparking discussions among fans and analysts.

LEC Winter 2025 showed that the region is becoming increasingly competitive. Karmine Corp broke into the elite, while favorites like Fnatic and KOI faced serious challenges. LEC Spring 2025 starts in April and will last until May. Can the giants regain their leading positions?