On Wednesday, July 23,
Gen.G officially qualified for the 2025
League of Legends World Championship, set to take place in China across Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. They secured their spot after
a win in the opening match of LCK Round 3-5 against Hanwha Life Esports — just three days after returning from Riyadh, where
they claimed the Esports World Cup title versus Anyone's Legend in the grand final. Their victory at the Mid-Season Invitational in Vancouver had guaranteed them a Worlds slot, but only on the condition that they also reached the Summer Split playoffs in their domestic league.
Gen.G are the first team in the world to qualify for the 2025 World Championship — and they did it after playing just one best-of series in the Summer Split. Since 2024, the winner of the MSI and the second-best performing region are awarded an additional Worlds slot. In the LCK, Gen.G are part of the Legend group and currently lead by a wide margin, thanks in part to the carry-over of their Spring Split track record. Gen.G now sit at a flawless 19-0 record.
The
League of Legends World Championship usually starts in late September or early October, yet Gen.G have already secured qualification months in advance. However, for now, Gen.G are only guaranteed a spot in the Play-In stage — they’ll need to finish top 3 to go straight to the Main Stage. That goal is well within reach, but not secured just yet. In their group are Hanwha Life Esports, whom they just defeated,
T1 — who gave them a hard time but were beaten twice by Gen.G at MSI — as well as Nongshim RedForce and KT Rolster.
The Golden Road isn’t achievable by any team this year, as Gen.G didn’t take part in the season-opening event, the First Stand. But if there’s one team that looks strong enough to win Worlds, it’s Gen.G. T1 will almost certainly be in the mix — and can never be underestimated — and China is expected to send some very strong contenders as well. Still, given the level of play Gen.G have shown recently, both in the LCK and at MSI, they’re firmly at the top of the list of favorites to succeed T1 as world champions.
