Latest news with #LCK
Saudi Gazette
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Hanwha Life Esports enters LCK 2025 as clear favorite after Media Day buzz
The ES TIMES — The 2025 LCK Regular Season Opening Media Day was held at the LCK Arena in Seoul, uniting coaches and star players from all ten competing teams for a preview of what promises to be a transformative season. The new format extends the season from March through September, moving toward a single, expanded campaign — a shift that demands deeper rosters and sustained performance. Spotlight on format changes and Fearless Draft This year's key rule changes include: The full implementation of the Fearless Draft system A ban on lane swaps Both updates are expected to drastically impact strategic decisions, particularly in jungle pathing and bottom lane execution. All eyes on Hanwha Life Esports The clear storyline from Media Day? Hanwha Life Esports is the team to beat. Eight out of ten participating teams pointed to Hanwha Life as the tournament favorite, thanks to its two major title wins in early 2025 and a reputation for tactical precision and consistency. While rival teams expressed optimism about their upgraded rosters, most acknowledged the sheer dominance of Hanwha Life heading into the season. Participating teams The event included representatives from: Gen.G T1 DRX DN FREAKS kt Rolster Nongshim RedForce BNK Esports OK Savings Bank Brion Dplus KIA Hanwha Life Esports Conversations focused on the need for adaptability, roster depth, and strategic stamina throughout the expanded season. A new structure for a new era The 2025 LCK season begins with a double round-robin format, followed by a triple round-robin stage after the Mid-Season Invitational. Organizers emphasized that this shift aims to increase competitive fairness while enhancing fan engagement. Beyond gameplay, this season is also seen as a turning point for the league's structure and financial model, as the LCK continues to evolve as a global esports powerhouse.
Korea Herald
01-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Hanwha Life bolsters support for HLE ahead of 2025 LCK
Hanwha Life is stepping up its backing for Hanwha Life Esports as the team gears up for the 2025 League of Legends Champions Korea season, which kicks off Wednesday. Last year marked a major milestone in the company's esports push, with HLE clinching the LCK summer championship, one of the most coveted titles of the esports scene. Building on that success, Hanwha Life has enhanced player accommodations, offering each member a private room instead of the previous two-per-room setup. The team bus— which serves not only as transport but also as a dedicated recovery space during competitions and a symbol of the HLE brand — has also been upgraded. Last year's LCK victory was the culmination of nearly seven years of dedication to esports for Hanwha Life, securing HLE's first championship since its founding in 2018. The insurer had been the first financial firm to establish its own esports team. At the time, Hanwha Life emphasized its commitment to esports, explaining its decision to build a team rather than simply sponsor one. The move was unexpected, as the local esports scene was struggling with waning popularity, and many companies were pulling back their support. For Hanwha Life, esports presented a strategic opportunity to connect with younger generations — those in their teens to 30s — who are generally less interested in life insurance, particularly amid declining demand for traditional life and savings insurance products. The esports initiative is also part of Hanwha Life's broader strategy to promote its global business, particularly in Southeast Asian markets, where esports is thriving, driven by a young, digitally savvy population. Chief Global Officer Kim Dong-won has led this initiative to bolster the company's regional presence and engage with potential young customers. The company operates in markets such as China and Indonesia, with a particularly strong foothold in Vietnam, where it marked its first cumulative profit in 15 years of operations in 2024. As HLE's popularity grows internationally, Hanwha Life is seeing the benefits. A fan event in Vietnam last July saw 10 times the number of applicants for the 1,500 available spots, reflecting the team's strong following. According to the company, 30 percent of attendees discovered Hanwha Life through the esports team. Hanwha Life has announced plans to hold another fan meeting this year. HLE has already had a strong start to 2025. Ahead of the upcoming LCK championship, the team claimed the inaugural 2025 LCK Cup title in February and triumphed at the 2025 First Stand Tournament, securing its first global victory. At a recent media day for the 2025 LCK, HLE was named the strongest championship contender by rival teams, underscoring the industry's high expectations for the squad. This year, Hanwha Life has adopted the slogan "Great Challengers" for HLE. 'HLE's journey mirrors Hanwha Life's venture into new challenges beyond traditional insurance, such as global expansion and leadership in financial artificial intelligence,' the company said. 'As great challengers, we look forward to HLE and Hanwha Life pursuing their challenges this year.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Long Covid campaigners send open letter to Health Secretary
More than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling for urgent investment in Long Covid and chronic fatigue services - highlighting the need to fund research that leads to effective treatments. The petition has been delivered alongside an open letter signed by organisations, charities, and clinicians - including Dorset-based charity Long Covid Kids (LCK) - to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP and Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton MP, READ: Weymouth Long Covid campaigner hits out at clinic closures The letter urges the government to take immediate action, including halting further clinic closures and highlights growing concerns around underfunding, lack of training for healthcare professionals, and the continued unmet health needs of children and adults living with Long Covid, M.E., PoTS, and other related conditions. Campaigners also want to see a long-term strategy to fund biomedical research, treatment, and monitor the wider impact of Long Covid and M.E., informed by lived experience. READ: Funding for Dorset-based Long Covid services to be cut Their call comes as the UK reflects on the five-year anniversary of the first national Covid-19 lockdown and the axing of Long Covid services - including the Dorset service - which closes at the end of June. A new report by LCK also revealed alarming gaps in Long Covid care, with the charity's founder, Sammie McFarland, from Weymouth, calling for the closures to clinics to 'stop immediately'. Sammie set up LCK in 2020 after she and her daughter Kitty developed Long Covid. She said: 'Long Covid is not going away, and neither are the children and adults who live with its effects - we need to monitor the wider impact. 'We're calling for urgent action to stop clinic closures, invest in biomedical research, and train healthcare professionals. Our young people are saying loud and clear: we want to be seen, heard, and supported.' Alongside the petition and open letter to government officials, children and young people affected by Long Covid have released a powerful video titled 'Don't Shut the Door on Us, which is now live across X, Instagram, and YouTube. READ: Weymouth mother develops resource for kids with long Covid In the short film, young people hold up hand-written signs describing the reality of living with the condition before dropping them to the floor - a quiet but striking call for recognition, care, and action. Molly, 16, who lives in Weymouth says she feels 'abandoned and hidden from view' after the announcement of the closure of the Dorset Long Covid service. She said: "I'm in my GCSE year, but I can't even go to school. I've lost the ability to do the things normal teenagers do, and there's no real support or treatment. "Thousands of children like me are suffering in silence - we need research, we need help, and we need to be seen." Kitty McFarland, 19, has been living with Long Covid since 2020 (Image: Sammie McFarland) Sammie's daughter, Kitty, who now needs to use a wheelchair due to the symptoms brought on by Long Covid expressed her gratitude for LCK and how important the charity is, especially now NHS services are closing. She said: "If long covid kids didn't exist, doctors would still believe only adults could get long covid, we are all incredibly grateful that the charity was created to educated others as no one else believed us."
Korea Herald
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
2025 LCK league games to feature major changes
One of most premier leagues in League of Legends landscape to kick off next week The 2025 League of Legends Champions Korea league games begin next week, with significant changes aimed at making the tournament more exciting for esports fans. LCK, South Korea's professional LoL esports league, is one of the five major regional leagues in the LoL scene, alongside China's LPL and North America's LCS. The league is widely regarded as one of the premier leagues in the LoL ecosystem, holding the record for winning nine out of the 14 LoL World Championship titles. This year, the LCK will undergo a major format change. Instead of the traditional spring and summer splits, the league will be held as a continuous six-month season. Ten teams, including LoL powerhouses such as Hanwha Life Esports and T1, will participate. From April 2 to June 1, rounds 1 and 2 will take place. Rounds 3 to 5, including the playoffs, will be held from July 23 to Sept. 28. Another change to the league game system includes the LCK Road to MSI tournaments, where the top six teams from rounds 1 and 2 will earn a spot. The LCK Road to MSI will determine the two teams advancing to the Mid-Season Invitational in June. MSI is one of three major international LoL tournaments hosted by Riot Games. The 2025 LCK will also feature the Fearless Draft system, which prohibits players from using the same champion twice in a match. The prize money for the final winning team has been bumped up to 300 million won ($204,627) from last year's 200 million won. At a media event in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Wednesday, Hanwha Life Esports, winners of the LCK Cup and First Stand Tournament, was selected by players on site as the strongest championship contenders. T1 was also mentioned as a potential title contender, with the Fearless Draft system seen as one of their strengths. Hanwha Life's head coach Choi In-gyu commented that he considered the LCK Cup and First Stand tournaments as 'test stages' and believed the team had not yet shown its best performance. He expressed his commitment to developing more diverse champion picks and creating new strategies for success. Han 'Peanut' Wang-ho, the team's star jungler, added, "Since the (LCK) season is long, I think we need to be ready for the long run. All I can think about is wanting to compete at MSI."
Japan Times
18-03-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Debt, job loss and eviction weigh on parents of children with long COVID
As a lively 11-year-old, Louise's son loved riding his bike, building outdoor dens, and swimming in the sea near his home on England's south coast. But then COVID-19 struck. He has since spent most of the last three years housebound with long COVID, needing a stair-lift and wheelchair to get around when not bedridden. Single mum Louise tried to juggle her career in marketing with caring for her son, but eventually had to give up the job she loved. "My savings have long gone. I'm maxed out on my overdraft and have debts," said Louise, who withheld her full name to protect her son's privacy. Now 14, her son is among more than 111,000 children with long COVID in the U.K., according to official data from 2024, suggesting there are millions worldwide. Five years after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, these families feel invisible. Symptoms vary but can include extreme fatigue, heart problems, breathing difficulties, cognitive issues and joint pain. While some children recover, others face life-changing conditions that threaten their education and futures. Quitting work Sammie McFarland's daughter Kitty became so sick her parents feared she might die. The family ended up selling their home to pay for treatment. McFarland, who set up the charity Long Covid Kids (LCK) in 2020, said caring for a child with the condition was often equivalent to a second full-time job. LCK, which now supports more than 11,000 families — predominantly in the U.K., but also in countries including Canada, Greece, Italy and the United States — regularly hears of parents having to quit work. A teacher lays out exam papers at The Fulham Boys School on the first day after the Christmas holidays following a government announcement that face masks are to be worn in English secondary schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic in London in January 2022. | REUTERS "Families have been evicted for falling behind on their rent, and others are using food banks," McFarland said. The burden is particularly heavy for single parents. One mother sent her sick son to live with her parents in the Caribbean to avoid losing her job. Louise does not know if life will ever return to normal. "It's such a scary thing to go through," she said. "Sometimes my only release has been to get outside to walk the dog and shed a few tears. When I get home I have to just stay super positive for my son." She estimated long COVID had so far cost her more than £90,000 pounds ($116,600) in lost income, medical costs and other expenses. No longer able to make pension contributions, it will continue to impact her financially for the rest of her life. Health inequalities The U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) is free at the point of use, but all nine parents interviewed had been forced to pay for private treatment. NHS pediatric long COVID clinics set up during the pandemic mainly offered nonmedical therapies and are now being disbanded. Families who can raise the funds are paying for private consultations, tests and off-label treatments that are showing promise. McFarland said parents accessing private health care often reported improvements in their children, while others felt increasingly hopeless. "The health inequalities are vast," McFarland added. "In 10 years' time we're going to clearly see these inequalities play out in the trajectory of these young people's future independence and work opportunities." The government has expressed alarm at a rapid rise in the number of children out of school since the pandemic and is keen to get them back in class. But parents are deeply frustrated that there is no recognition that many are sick with long COVID. The National Covid Memorial Wall, near a vaccination site at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, in December 2021 | Andrew Testa / The New York Times McFarland said an increasing number of families were being accused of faking or somehow causing their children's symptoms, with dozens threatened by local authorities with having their children placed in care. "It's an absolutely catastrophic repercussion of the lack of ... public awareness," she added. The lack of recognition has also complicated access to social welfare benefits. LCK said claims were often rejected forcing parents to go through stressful appeals. Clean air in schools The charity will submit evidence to the U.K.'s ongoing COVID-19 inquiry in the autumn, when it examines the pandemic's impact on children. LCK wants greater investment in research and better air filtration and ventilation in schools to reduce the spread of the virus. Multiple infections can increase the risk of a child developing long COVID, while any viral reinfection can trigger a relapse in those already affected. In Scotland, Jennifer Robertson is home-schooling her 12-year-old son Fergus to minimize the risks. But that did not prevent him getting COVID for a fifth time at Christmas, undoing months of progress. "It's heartbreaking, frustrating and really stressful," Robertson said, adding that it was impossible to know when the virus was circulating because no one tested any more. Robertson, a marine scientist, has gone from pillar to post to find treatments for Fergus, whose symptoms include neurological damage and chest pains. "When your child is jerking with involuntary movements all day, it's really scary. And when no one can help you, that makes it even worse," she said. When Fergus got sick in 2022, Robertson stayed home to care for him. The following year, she got long COVID as well, and her husband later lost his job when his boss said he was spending too much time caring for his wife and son. Long COVID has so far cost the Robertsons nearly £100,000, including £71,600 in lost wages and £20,300 in medical expenses. The family no longer takes holidays or buys new clothes, and has gone into debt paying for private consultations. "We've had some dark days," Robertson said. "But I will never stop trying to get him better, no matter what it takes."
