Resilient FURIA eliminated, BLG qualify for MSI 2025 main stage

Brazilian esports organisation FURIA has become the first team to exit MSI 2025 after falling to GAM Esports in a tense five-game series. 

On the other side of the bracket, Chinese team Bilibili Gaming (BLG) has booked its place in the MSI main stage following a convincing performance against G2 Esports.

Heading into MSI 2025’s first elimination stage, both teams came into the match-up with different round one experiences. FURIA, representing LTA South, is fresh off a 3-2 loss to G2 Esports. Meanwhile, LCP’s GAM Esports suffered a swift 3-0 defeat to BLG. 

Despite GAM Esports having a gold lead for most of the game, match one was a closely contested matchup that saw both sides struggle under pressure. FURIA claimed the Atakhan at 23 minutes, despite being over 2,000 gold down, but then GAM Esports claimed the first Baron of the game in 28 minutes. 

Whilst GAM managed to build a decent lead with its Baron, FURIA attempted to claw back the game. This included an ambitious Baron steal in the 38th minute by midlaner Arthur ‘Tutsz’ Peixoto Machado to put momentum in the Brazilian team’s favour. Ultimately, FURIA’s valiant effort proved to be futile as a crucial team fight at the elder dragon in the 44th minute sealed the Vietnamese team its first victory at MSI.

Games two and three were a lot more definitive than the teams’ first clash. A great game from Guilherme ‘Guigo’ Araújo Ruiz on Jax (10/1/5) saw FURIA tie the series up 1-1. In game three, GAM Esports’ 4000 gold lead at 20 minutes was undone through two crucial fights at Atakhan and Mountain Dragon. The momentum from these back-to-back team fights saw FURIA claim the Baron and lead the series 2-1.

Game four saw GAM Esports reclaim some momentum, powering through the match to secure a slow and steady 35-minute win, levelling the scores at 2-2. 

Perhaps it was one game too much for FURIA, which was competing in its tenth League of Legends match in two days. Whilst the early game favoured the LTA South representative, GAM Esports eventually took control around the 14-minute mark and showed no sign of letting the lead slip. After 36 minutes, with a 19-6 scoreline in GAM Esports’ favour, the LCP team sent a resilient FURIA out of the competition.

In what was almost a mirror situation from day one of MSI 2025, a five-game thriller was followed by a 3-0 series. This time LPL second seed Bilibili Gaming toppled European side G2 Esports to secure its spot in MSI’s main stage. 

The closest game of the series was the first, with G2 Esports maintaining a competitive pace with the 2024 Worlds finalists. However, the Chinese team ramped up following an Atakhan victory at 23 minutes, quickly followed by a Baron take three minutes later. 

One last-minute team fight from G2 in the 33rd minute remarkably nearly gave the European side an upset victory, with the LEC representative tantalisingly close to destroying BLG’s nexus. However, eventually, BLG would defeat G2 in just over 35 minutes.

Game two was one to forget for G2 Esports, with LEC’s second seed losing out in the laning phase and on objectives throughout the match. With BLG securing the Ocean Dragon Soul in 23 minutes and the Baron a few minutes later, the Chinese team walked away with a 30-minute victory to put the series at match point. 

Whilst G2 Esports once again had a competitive early game against BLG, momentum turned around the 15-minute mark after picking off top laner Sergen ‘BrokenBlade’ Çelik. Successive skirmish victories by Bilibili Gaming proved crucial as the team built up a consistently growing gold lead. In 33 minutes, with a 13,000 gold lead, Bilibili Gaming took game three, becoming the first play-in team to advance at MSI 2025 in Canada. 

In the end, impressive series performances from midlaner Zhuo ‘Knight’ Ding (21/6/21) and ADC Zhao ‘Elk’ Jia-Hao (15/5/17) helped BLG record yet another dominant win.

As a result of day two’s results, G2 Esports will face off against GAM Esports for the final main stage spot of MSI 2025. 

For European fans, the game will start in the early hours of Monday morning (June 20th), kicking off at 1am BST. Fans can tune in to the BO5 match live on YouTube, Twitch and through associated co-streamers.