Hanwha Life Esports made history on Sunday (February 23, 2025), as the underdogs clinched the LCK Cup 2025 title right from under Gen.G’s noses. They have officially secured their spot at the brand-new international showdown, First Stand.
In a heart-pounding Grand Final at LoL Park in Seoul, Hanwha Life pulled off a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Gen.G, sealing their place at the top and proving they’re ready to take on the world.
Hanwha Life’s LCK Cup 2025 Secures Their Spot for First Stand
The Grand Final of the LCK Cup 2025 was packed with electrifying moments, as Hanwha Life Esports outmaneuvered Gen.G with razor-sharp mid-jungle plays, shutting down Kim “Kiin” Ki-in. Park “Viper” Do-hyeon also stole the spotlight in the first match, delivering a game-changing late-team fight performance.
The tension hit its peak in the decisive fifth match, where both teams played cautiously—by the 28-minute mark, only a single kill had been recorded. But at 33 minutes, chaos erupted. Hanwha Life struck hard, eliminating Gen.G’s powerhouse duo, Kiin and Jung “Chovy” Ji-hun, in a crucial team fight. From there, victory was inevitable—Hanwha Life stormed Gen.G’s Nexus at 38 minutes, sealing their championship triumph.
Though the LCK Cup 2025 results don’t impact this year’s season standings, this win secures Hanwha Life Esports a golden ticket to First Stand, Riot Games’ brand-new international tournament debuting in March. Additionally, their top-tier finish will factor into the allocation of support funds for LCK teams.
SEE: What is the LCK Cup (League of Legends Champions Korea)?
Zeus Crowned MVP of the Grand Final
After back-to-back World Championship wins with T1 in 2023 and 2024, Zeus’ unexpected move to Hanwha Life Esports in 2025 sent shockwaves through the League community. Fresh off fulfilling his brief military service in Korea, Zeus jumped straight into the LCK Cup 2025, ready to prove himself all over again.
Although his early performances were turbulent and didn’t quite live up to the dominance the fans were accustomed to, Zeus soon found his footing. By the Playoffs, he was in full force, earning two Playoff MVP honors in close-out wins against T1 and Dplus KIA. But it was against Gen.G in the Grand Final where Zeus firmly secured his place in history, dropping a head-spinning performance for which he won the Finals MVP award and 2 million KRW reward.
In the post-match interview, Zeus reflected on the journey: “The LCK Cup was my first tournament after joining the team, so I thought it was going to be a bit tougher. But everything went so smoothly, and I didn’t expect to win it all. Yet here we are, holding the trophy—I’m incredibly happy.”
Now, with the LCK Cup 2025 trophy in hand, Zeus and Hanwha Life Esports will carry the LCK banner into First Stand 2025, Riot Games’ brand-new international tournament, kicking off March 10, 2025.
