In an electrifying conclusion to South Korea's newest League of Legends tournament, Hanwha Life Esports defeated Gen.G 3-2 to become the first-ever LCK Cup champions. This victory not only adds another trophy to their cabinet but also secures their spot at Riot Games' upcoming international First Stand tournament.

The Decisive Fifth Set

The championship came down to a nail-biting final match where top laner Zeus emerged as the difference-maker. His Gwen pick effectively neutralized Gen.G star Kiin's Ornn, culminating in a game-changing dragon pit engage at 33 minutes that sealed Hanwha's victory[2][4]. The final moments saw perfect coordination during Baron Nashor control and base siege tactics that highlighted HLE's strategic growth throughout the tournament.

From Underdogs to Champions

Hanwha's Cinderella story saw them overcome:
- A grueling 20 consecutive full best-of-five series
- Lower bracket runs against T1 and Dplus KIA
- Multiple reverse sweeps demonstrating mental resilience
Coach Inkyu Choi revealed in post-match interviews: "Our early tournament struggles actually helped us develop better crisis management - when it went to Game 5 today, we knew we had the experience advantage"[7][9].

Community Reactions & Meta Impact

Korean fans praised Viper's consistent bot lane dominance while international viewers marveled at:
- Peanut's jungle pathing innovations
- Zeka's mid-lane counterpick strategies
- The team's 78% first dragon control rate
The tournament also showcased evolving meta trends with surprise picks like Nidalee jungle and Ashe support gaining prominence[3][6].

Road to First Stand

As LCK Cup winners, Hanwha now prepares for March's First Stand tournament where they'll face:
- LEC Winter Champions G2 Esports
- LCS Lock-In winners Cloud9
- LPL Spring leaders Top Esports
When asked about international prospects, Zeus confidently stated: "This trophy proves we can compete globally - we're just getting started"[7][10].