Hanwha Life Esports shattered Gen.G’s golden road dreams, dethroning the reigning champions in the LCK Summer Split finals. This seismic victory ended Gen.G’s two-year reign and marked HLE’s triumphant rise to LCK supremacy, claiming their first seed at Worlds in electrifying fashion.
2024 marked the second consecutive year a team came agonizingly close to achieving the elusive LoL grand slam—winning all their domestic splits and the Mid-Season Invitational —only to falter one step from reaching it. Last year, it was JD Gaming from the LPL, and this time, it was Gen.G.
Gen.G’s journey through 2024 was spectacular. Having secured the LCK Spring Split and the coveted MSI title, they seemed unstoppable. Heading into the Summer Split finals, they were poised to claim the grand slam that has long eluded any esports teams in League history. However, with a jaw-dropping upset, HLE secured their first win over Gen.G since 2021 on the grandest stage of all—ending Gen.G’s two-year dominance over the LCK and clinching the region’s first seed at the 2024 World Championship.
Hanwha Life’s journey to the top was historic to watch. Having taken down T1 in the semifinals with a commanding 3-1 victory, HLE went into the grand final with momentum. They delivered precise teamfighting as they expertly dismantled Gen.G’s attempts at proactive play times and times again around the dragon pit.
This victory was extra sweet for three players—Doran, Peanut, and Delight—as they were all part of Gen.G just one year ago. Now, in an ironic twist of fate, they were the ones to stop their former team’s golden road.
Peanut, HLE’s star jungler, made history with this victory. In the post-match interview, he reflected on his journey, recalling how he won his first regional title eight years ago with ROX Tigers—and now he is the first jungler ever to win seven LCK championships.
On the other hand, his teammate Zeka secured his first-ever LCK title and won the MVP award for his performance in the grand final. In the post-match interview, he highlighted how his past struggles against Gen.G’s Chovy—who had a staggering 16-1 match record against him before this series—were crucial in his growth. “The process of losing against Chovy up until this day is what allowed me to win today,” Zeka said before thanking his teammates.
For Gen.G, the loss will no doubt be a bitter pill to swallow, but their journey is far from over as they head into Worlds, they will look to regroup and try to reclaim their throne on the international stage.
As the 2024 World Championship approaches, fans can expect even more drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments. For now, though, the LCK belongs to Hanwha Life Esports—the team that stopped Gen.G’s golden road.
Published: Sep 8, 2024 08:02 am