Invictus Gaming win Riot’s World Championship

Invictus Gaming’s commanding 3-0 sweep against Fnatic in the 2018 World Championship finals established them as legends in competitive League of Legends history. This victory represented more than just a tournament win—it signaled a fundamental shift in the global esports landscape.

The 2018 season began with Royal Never Give Up (RNG) as the overwhelming favorites, having secured both the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and LPL summer playoff titles. However, when G2 Esports eliminated RNG in the quarterfinals, the tournament became wide open, creating the perfect opportunity for IG to seize their moment.

This championship held special significance as it marked the LPL’s first World Championship title since 2012, breaking a six-year drought for Chinese League of Legends. The victory validated the region’s evolving playstyle and strategic approach to the game.

From the opening moments, Invictus Gaming demonstrated their championship-caliber coordination. Jungler Gao “Ning” Zhen-Ning immediately targeted Fnatic’s star mid laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther, securing first blood and establishing immediate lane priority.

IG’s early game strategy focused on creating insurmountable pressure through calculated aggression. While Fnatic’s Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen attempted to stabilize with his signature Lee Sin, IG’s mid laner Song “Rookie” Eui-jin showcased why he’s considered one of the world’s elite players, dominating every engagement.

The team’s vision control proved particularly devastating, with IG systematically denying Fnatic crucial information about map movements. This strategic suffocation allowed IG to secure Baron Nashor uncontested, using the empowered buff to systematically dismantle Fnatic’s defenses.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Many teams focus solely on kill counts, but IG demonstrated that vision denial can be more impactful than direct combat. Proper ward placement and clearing creates opportunities for objective control without risky engagements.

Building on their initial success, Ning translated his aggressive playstyle to the top lane, coordinating perfectly with Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok. Their synergy resulted in complete lane dominance against Fnatic’s Gabriël “Bwipo” Rau, creating an enormous gold advantage that Fnatic could never overcome.

Fnatic attempted a desperate Baron Nashor play to swing momentum, but IG’s team coordination proved superior. They not only prevented the objective steal but secured a team wipe, inhibitor destruction, and ultimately the game victory.

Advanced Strategy: IG’s ability to transition pressure from one lane to another demonstrates the importance of flexible game plans. Rather than forcing a single strategy, they adapted to Fnatic’s weaknesses in real-time.

The gold differential created through these calculated plays reached nearly 10,000 by the mid-game, making any comeback attempt statistically improbable. This showcases how early advantages, properly leveraged, can create insurmountable leads.

Facing elimination, Fnatic made a roster substitution, bringing in veteran Paul “sOAZ” Boyer. While this provided temporary stability, IG’s bottom lane carry Yu “JackeyLove” Wen-Bo erupted with an impressive eight-kill streak that systematically dismantled Fnatic’s defenses.

Despite a miraculous smite steal from Broxah that temporarily preserved hope, IG’s relentless pressure continued unabated. They methodically pounded at Fnatic’s structures, trading objectives efficiently while maintaining map control.

The final moments saw IG execute a flawless team fight in the bottom lane, completely overwhelming Fnatic’s remaining defenses before destroying the nexus.

Practical Tip: When facing a gold deficit, avoid equal objective trades—instead, look for opportunities to create numerical advantages through split-pushing or catching isolated opponents.

IG’s disciplined approach to closing out games prevented any potential comeback scenarios. Their ability to maintain aggression without overextending demonstrates the balance required for championship-level play.

Several key factors contributed to IG’s dominant performance throughout the series. Their jungle-mid synergy created early advantages that snowballed into insurmountable leads.

The team’s vision control strategy deserves particular attention. By systematically denying Fnatic crucial information, IG could make proactive plays rather than reactive responses.

Optimization for Advanced Players: Study IG’s ward placement patterns—they consistently secured vision in enemy territory rather than defensive positions, enabling aggressive plays.

Time estimates for implementing similar strategies range from 2-3 weeks of focused practice for coordinated teams. Individual players can benefit from studying specific champion matchups and power spikes.

Common strategic errors that IG avoided include overcommitting to lost objectives and failing to transition advantages across lanes.

The 2018 World Championship represented a landmark moment for competitive League of Legends. For the first time in history, both a European LEC team and a Chinese LPL squad reached the grand finals, while Cloud9’s impressive run secured North America’s first semifinal appearance since 2011.

Following their victory, star mid laner Song “Rookie” Eui-jin emotionally addressed the audience, expressing pride in delivering the championship to LPL fans and hoping for continued support.

This victory permanently altered the global perception of regional strengths. The LPL’s aggressive, teamfight-oriented style proved superior to the more methodical approaches of other regions.

The championship’s impact extended beyond the tournament itself, influencing team strategies, champion priorities, and regional development programs for years to come.

No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » Invictus Gaming win Riot’s World Championship How Invictus Gaming's strategic dominance secured their historic 2018 World Championship victory over Fnatic