League of Legends World Championship Finals live: FPX defeat G2 as home favourites flounder

The League of Legends World Championship finals took place at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris. (The Independent)

China's FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) have won the finals of the 2019 League of Legends World Championship, achieving victory over home favourites G2 ESports (G2) in what many claim to be the pinnacle of eSports.

Nearly 100 million people around the world tuned in for the 2018 finals and this year's event may go on to smash that figure when viewing figures across all streaming platforms are tallied up.

Billed as Europe vs. Asia, G2 were hoping to become the first Western team to lift the Summoner’s Cup in eight years.

But after a spectacular opening ceremony that featured augmented reality hip-hop collective True Damage, FPX dominated their rivals with a clean sweep of victories to win the match 3-0.

The Independent was at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris to cover the event.

Please wait for the live blog to load.

[10 November 2019 12:50 · anthony.cuthbertson]

Mexican Waves are rolling around the AccorHotels Arena as the crowd passes the time.

Despite their chants for a 3-0 victory by home favourites G2, such an outcome is unlikely considering the strength of the FPX team.

The first game will be crucial to gaining a psychological advantage over the opposition and FPX will be coming out hard.

[10 November 2019 12:51 · anthony.cuthbertson]

Technical problems fixed - we're off!

[10 November 2019 12:58 · anthony.cuthbertson]

It's first blood to FPX, with massive attacks along the top lane. A very strong opening from the Chinese team.

[10 November 2019 13:01 · anthony.cuthbertson]

FPX may have overloaded the top lane, with Perkz making a big play for G2 by taking down Tian. 

Huge cheer from the home crowd.

[10 November 2019 13:58 · anthony.cuthbertson]

Slight technical problems here too, apologies.

We're back now in time for game two. 

A stunning first win for FPX. Two more and the title is theirs.

[10 November 2019 14:00 · anthony.cuthbertson]

First blood again to FPX! Three kills already and G2 are on the ropes here.

[10 November 2019 14:07 · anthony.cuthbertson]

It's 6-1 now as FPX strike three times in quick succession.

History repeating itself as a European team with high hopes stumbles in the final to a Chinese team.

[10 November 2019 14:15 · anthony.cuthbertson]

It's 8-1 now but the game has been unexpectedly paused.

No one is quite sure why.

[10 November 2019 14:16 · anthony.cuthbertson]

Here's a stat that G2 won't want to hear: No team that lost game one has gone on to win the 5-game match.

[10 November 2019 14:19 · anthony.cuthbertson]

The second game remains paused. Here's how it currently stands:

Kills

FPX 8-1 G2

Towers

FPX 3-1 G2

Gold

FPX 39k - 32k G2