Hanwha Life Esports triumphs as winner of 2025 LCK Cup
Gen. G ranks second in the first-ever LCK Cup
Hanwha Life Esports, a relative newcomer to e-sports, triumphed over League of Legends powerhouse Gen.G after a match lasting nearly four hours, claiming victory as the champions of the inaugural LoL Champions Korea Cup on Sunday.
The LCK Cup started Jan. 15, with the final match hosted at the LCK Arena in Jongno-gu, central Seoul.
In a best-of-five series, Hanwha Life Esports defeated Gen.G 3-2.
Highlights of the game included Hanwha Life Esports outplaying Gen.G's Kim "Kiin" Ki-in through strategic middle and jungle plays, alongside Park "Viper" Do-hyeon's performance during a late-game team fight in the first match.
The fifth and final match was particularly tense, with both teams adopting a cautious approach; only one kill was recorded by the 28-minute mark. However, at the 33-minute mark, a massive team fight erupted, with Hanwha Life Esports taking down both Kiin and Jung "Chovy" Ji-hun, pivotal players of Gen.G.
Hanwha Life Esports ultimately secured victory by taking over Gen.G's Nexus on the 38-minute mark.
While the results of the LCK Cup do not directly affect a team's record for the 2025 season, Hanwha Life Esports, as the 2025 LCK Cup winners, will represent the LCK in the inaugural First Stand Tournament -- an international event by Riot Games set to debut in March. Additionally, the LCK Cup rankings will influence the distribution of support funds provided to LCK teams.
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