This upset ended Gen.G’s golden road, securing HLE the top seed from Korea for the 2024 League of Legends World Championship.

WOORI BANK 2024 #LCK SUMMER CHAMPIONS: @HLEofficial pic.twitter.com/YB1DYl9MgD

— LCK (@LCK) September 8, 2024

Gen.G had been a powerhouse throughout 2024, built around the incredible talent of Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon.

They won the LCK Spring title and dominated the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), defeating Bilibili Gaming.

Gen.G’s 17-1 record in the LCK Summer Split made them the overwhelming favourites to complete the rare and coveted LoL grand slam��winning both domestic splits and MSI.

In the upper bracket final, they handily beat HLE 3-1, reinforcing their dominance and seemingly cruising towards another title.

HLE, meanwhile, had steadily improved over the course of the year.

Though they finished third in the spring behind T1, they showed progress throughout the season, culminating in a strong playoff run.

HLE even defeated Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and T1 in the lower bracket to earn another chance at Gen.G in the grand final.

Despite their resurgence, HLE entered the series as underdogs, with Gen.G heavily favoured to complete the golden road.

HLE took the first blow, winning a tightly contested first game.

Gen.G responded in championship form, taking the next two games and putting themselves on the verge of another title.

But HLE roared back, decisively winning the fourth game to force a game five.

In the deciding match, Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo��s Yone dominated Chovy��s Corki in the midlane, securing HLE��s victory and the 2024 LCK Summer Championship.

Zeka��s performance earned him the Finals MVP title, marking his first LCK championship.

Congratulations to the Woori Bank 2024 #LCK Summer FINALS MVP, Zeka! pic.twitter.com/b3Cn3PtBJf

— LCK (@LCK) September 8, 2024

The victory was especially poignant for HLE��s Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon, Han “Peanut” Wang-ho, and Yoo “Delight” Hwan-joong��three players who had been part of Gen.G just a year earlier.

In a twist of fate, they were the ones to halt Gen.G’s golden road.

Peanut, now HLE��s star jungler, made history by becoming the first jungler to win seven LCK championships.

Reflecting on his journey in a post-match interview, he recalled winning his first title eight years ago with ROX Tigers.

Zeka, in his first LCK title win, acknowledged how his past struggles against Chovy��who held a dominant 16-1 record against him before this series��had fueled his growth.

“The process of losing against Chovy up until this day is what allowed me to win today,” he remarked.

For Gen.G, this loss ended their dreams of a perfect year.

However, their journey is far from over.

As they set their sights on LoL Worlds 2024, they will aim to regroup and reclaim their status on the international stage.

Despite the bitter defeat, Gen.G��s spring and summer dominance still cements them as a formidable force.

This upset marked the second consecutive year that a team came tantalisingly close to achieving the elusive grand slam��last year it was JD Gaming from the LPL, and this time, Gen.G.

Their defeat underscores the unpredictability and excitement of competitive League of Legends.

With the LCK Regional Finals on the horizon, teams like T1 will now battle for the remaining Worlds spots.

But for now, the LCK crown belongs to Hanwha Life Esports, who dethroned the reigning champions in a dramatic, unforgettable series.

As the 2024 World Championship approaches, fans can expect even more surprises, upsets, and electrifying moments on the international stage.

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The organizers named Hanwha Life Esports precent recruit Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo as the best player in the league and the best mid laner of the past 12 months, for his contributions to DRX. Despite this recognition, he was the only player from the World Championship-winning DRX roster to receive an award at the ceremony.

Zeka, who led the DRX team to victory at the prestigious international tournament, was recognized for his exceptional performance in the year in view. Having achieved success with DRX in his one-year stint, he hopes to replicate his success with Hanwha Life Esports in the upcoming season.

The World Championship is the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends, and every year, the best teams from around the globe converge to fight for the title of World Champion. The competition is fierce, and only the most skilled and dedicated players can emerge victorious.

Zeka and the lads on the 2022 DRX roster were no exceptions. Zeka consistently put in standout performances throughout the tournament, leading the team to victory game after game. His exceptional mechanical skills and strategic decision-making were key to the team’s success, and he played a crucial role in securing the team’s place at the top of the leaderboards.

In addition to his impressive in-game performance, the player was also lauded for his leadership abilities. He was a key figure in the team’s communication and shot-calling, and his calm, composed demeanor on the Rift helped to keep the teammates focused and motivated.

It is no surprise, then, that the player was chosen as the 2022 LCK Awards Player of the Year. His impressive play and leadership on the world stage have solidified his place as one of the best players in the world and is sure to continue making a major impact in the competitive League of Legends scene.

In addition to the Player of the Year award, the LCK Awards also recognized the best players for each role in League of Legends, as well as the best coach and the best rookie of the year.

Three T1 players – top laner Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, jungler Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon, and support Ryu “Keria” Min-seok – were recognized as the best players in their respective roles, while Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk was awarded the title of best AD carry of the year.

The best coach award was given to Gen.G’s Ko “Score” Dong-bin, while Lee “VicLa” Dae-kwang, a former KT Rolster mid laner who joined FlyQuest on Dec. 9, was overlooked for the best Rookie of the Year.

During the off-season, some of the other awarded players changed teams. While Zeka will be representing Hanwha Life in the upcoming season, Ruler has joined JD Gaming in the LPL. However, T1 have decided to retain their entire roster for the next season.