FlyQuest just sent a statement to the rest of North America. Their 2-0 sweep of Lyon Gaming in the Esports World Cup 2026 qualifier wasn’t just a win – it was a masterclass in how to completely dismantle your opponent.
We’ve seen some great League matches this year, but this one was all about FlyQuest flexing their muscles. Gryffin had fans talking with his Shen jungle pick in game 2, proving that sometimes the most unexpected strategies can be the most effective.
The community was quick to praise FlyQuest’s performance. The numbers tell the whole story – a 29-10 kill advantage in game 1 alone shows just how dominant this series was.
“FlyQuest Vs Lyon EWC Qualifier PMT FLY 2-0 Lyon Pretty stompy 2-0 tbh, neither game was very close. Gryffin had a great series and played Shen jungle in game 2, Lyon sidelanes got cooked pretty hard both games” – @NunuBaggins
FlyQuest looked like a team that’s hitting their stride at exactly the right moment. Every role stepped up, but Gryffin’s jungle performance was something special. That Pantheon game where he went 10-1-11? Chef’s kiss. Then following it up with Shen jungle just shows the confidence this team has right now.
Massu and Cryogen have been building solid synergy in the bot lane, and it really showed against Lyon. Meanwhile, Quad’s Annie pick in game 1 might have seemed simple, but sometimes simple is exactly what works. When you can execute the fundamentals perfectly, fancy picks aren’t always necessary.
We have to feel for Lyon Gaming though. Coming into this qualifier, they had hopes of making a statement in the North American scene. Instead, their sidelanes struggled throughout both games. It’s tough to watch a team that clearly has individual talent get outplayed so consistently.
Dhokla and Saint couldn’t find their footing against FlyQuest’s coordinated pressure. When your top and mid lanes are getting “cooked pretty hard” as the community put it, it’s almost impossible to mount any kind of comeback. Lyon’s bot lane tried to keep things competitive, but League is a team game for a reason.
The Shen jungle pick has everyone talking. It’s not something we see often in professional play, but Gryffin made it look natural. The utility and map control that Shen brings from the jungle position creates so many opportunities for his teammates. It’s exactly the kind of creative thinking that can catch opponents off guard in a bo3 format.
This win puts FlyQuest in a great position for the rest of the EWC qualifiers. The Esports World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and North America needs its best teams to step up on the international stage.
FlyQuest’s current form suggests they’re ready for that challenge. They’ve been building momentum throughout the spring, and performances like this show they can execute when it matters most. The coordination between all five players looked effortless, which is exactly what you want to see heading into higher stakes matches.
For Lyon, this isn’t the end of the world. Every team faces setbacks, and how they respond will define their year. They’ve got the individual skill – now it’s about putting the pieces together as a unit. The sidelane issues that plagued them today are fixable with the right practice and preparation.
Looking ahead, FlyQuest will need to maintain this level of play as the competition gets tougher. The EWC qualifiers will only get more intense from here, with teams studying every game and looking for weaknesses to exploit.
Other North American teams are definitely taking notes after watching this series. FlyQuest’s willingness to experiment with picks like Shen jungle while still executing fundamentally sound League of Legends is exactly the kind of flexibility that wins tournaments.
The next round of qualifiers should be exciting. If FlyQuest can keep playing at this level, they’ll be a real threat to make it all the way to the main event. And honestly? After watching them completely outclass Lyon today, we’re here for it.
