Second consecutive League of Legends Champions Korea trophy for Hanwha Life Esports, after winning the LCK Summer 2024, HLE once again defeated Gen.G in the grand final 3-2 to claim the LCK Cup, securing their qualification for the First Stand, which will take place on the same stage where they just triumphed, LoL Park in Seoul. They are the first team to do so. Choi "Zeus" Woo-je was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final, further confirming how quickly he adapted and performed at the highest level right after his transfer to HLE.

A tough journey

The journey for HLE was no easy feat. Starting in the loser group, they faced tough losses against the undefeated Dplus KIA and Gen.G, eventually having to go through the play-ins to reach the playoffs. What followed was an impressive display of growth. Every BO5 played by HLE went the full five games, and they managed to win all of them, showcasing their resilience and the depth of their champion pool, especially considering the fearless draft format.

First, they faced off in a do-or-die match against T1, followed by a battle against Gen.G. After that, they triumphed over DK in the upper bracket and then took down Gen.G once again in the grand final. HLE have firmly established themselves as the best team in the LCK.
Even though the winner of the LCK Cup isn't crowned the official LCK champion, as the tournament serves as a qualifier for the First Stand, HLE still stands as the face of the LCK in the last two splits and shows no signs of slowing down, especially with their ambitions for the First Stand.