Relatively new comer to LoL continues its winning streak since becoming the 2025 LCK Cup champion
Hanwha Life Esports rose as the victor of the inaugural First Stand Tournament held in Seoul, continuing its winning streak since becoming the 2025 champion of the League of Legends Champions Korea Cup in February.
The 2025 FST, which kicked off March 10 at LoL Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is the newest addition to Riot Games' professional LoL esports global events, alongside the World Championship and Mid-Season Invitational.
The tournament invited five teams from around the world, each representing a major league.
Hanwha Life Esports represented the LCK, while Team Liquid championed for the League of Legends Championship of the Americas. For the LoL Championship Pacific, Team CTBC Flying Oyster led the charge, while Karmine Corp represented leagues from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Top Esports represented China.
Hanwha Life Esports became the champion of the 2025 FST after beating Karmine Corp 3 to 1 on Sunday afternoon. The finals MVP in the championship match went to mid-laner Kim "Zeka" Gun-woo.
The championship came with a cash prize of $300,000 as well as a spot in the 2025 MSI playoffs. The team will now be able to bypass the preliminary rounds in the 2025 MSI.
Hanwha Life Esports asserted their dominance from the very start of the tournament. In the opening match March 10, the team beat Top Esports from China — an LoL powerhouse — with a 2-0 victory, advancing through the group stage with a 4-0 record and becoming the first team to secure a spot in the semifinals.
During the semifinals, Hanwha Life Esports beat Top Esports 3 to 0 and, in the finals, the team defeated Karmine Corp 3-1 without conceding a single match point.
This marks Hanwha Life Esports' first international championship victory since its official launch in 2018.
The next international tournament, MSI 2025, where the top two teams from the mid-season standings of the world's five major leagues will compete, is set to kick off in Vancouver, Canada, June 27.
Meanwhile, South Korea's official LoL league, the LCK, will begin its regular season April 2.
yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com
