End of an Era: “Jankos” announces departure from G2 Esports after 5 years with the organization.

G2 and Jankos Part Ways After a 5-year Long Relationship

There are few truly exceptional players in the game of League of Legends, who shine as bright and long as Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski. After a long illustrious career of 5 years with G2 Esports, Marcin released a video on 22nd of Oct, confirming his departure.

In the video, he addressed the highlights and lowlights of his career spanning half a decade on G2, thanking his ex-teammates and the staff. He would also speak on the journey 2022 took him on, the difficulties the different iterations of the G2 rosters, and how the year 2022 ended as it did.

Competitive in Hindsight

G2 would see an early Worlds 2022 exit after going 1-5 in the Group Stage, falling to DWG KIA. Despite the disappointing end, “Jankos” would assert that ‘from a competitive standpoint [G2] had been everywhere they could be.’ Having won the 2022 Spring Playoffs, G2 also qualified for MSI (placing 3rd-4th), placed second in 2022 Summer Playoffs and finally qualified for Worlds, “Jankos” would add on that while ‘[G2] had been clapped at Worlds, there were many others who wished they could be clapped at Worlds.’

He would also add on that the 2022 iteration of the G2 roster was the one where he ‘had the most fun he has had in a while, playing League of Legends.’ After the dismantling of the legendary 2019-2020 roster, G2 would undergo a turbulent 2021 as they struggled to maintain form.

Then at the end of 2021, G2 announced a full revamp of the roster. Rasmus “caPs” Borregaard and “Jankos” became the remaining remnants of the legendary lineup from 2019.

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Gone but not Retired

Through most of his shared history with G2, “Jankos” has remained a consistent mainstay of the roster. A large part of how he has done so, is the level of play he has managed to achieve in Europe. For many, his claim to fame as ‘one of the greatest junglers in Europe’ is not far from the truth.

Since joining G2, the veteran jungler has had numerous finishes in Playoffs finals, made at least top four of Worlds four times (including a finals appearance), and won MSI. The last is a feat that no non-Western team has ever accomplished in the history of the tournament.

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In his video, Jankos outline his plan to take a break from competing for 2-3 weeks, before coming back. At this point, he is unsure what the future holds, but has affirmed he will not be retiring yet.

 

Thank you, First Blood King

Upon announcing his departure from the longstanding organization, it was met by an outcry of support from the League of Legends community.

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To have earned the respect of allies and competitors alike is a testament to his legacy thus far. Figures such as “Perkz,” “Broxah” and “Caedrel” alongside former teammates “Flakked” and “Targamas” all expressed support and love in the wake of the announcement.

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[twitter url="https://twitter.com/Targamas/status/1583865616003276800"]

[twitter url="https://twitter.com/Caedrel/status/1583861094711689216"]

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In one of the final games of their Group Stage run, G2 would face off against LPL first seed JDG. With the game all but won for JDG, their top laner would have an unusual request: a 1v1 against the Polish jungler.

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Admiration and a legacy that transcends borders. Thank you, First Blood King. Thank you G2 Jankos.

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Image credit: Hans Gurk via Riot Games