Why change the best team in the world when you can just keep them for another year? Gen.G is one of the few teams in the major leagues that decided to retain the same five players for the 2026 season. There were some discussions and a bit of uncertainty around the jungle role during the offseason, but ultimately, the same five-man roster will continue together.

The only change comes at the head coach position: Kim "KIM" Jeong-soo has been replaced by Ryu "Ryu" Sang-wook, who had been with BNK FearX for the past two years, where he even crossed paths with his future support, Joo "Duro" Min-kyu.

In the jungle, Gen.G’s offseason revolved around deciding whether to keep Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu or bring Seo "Kanavi" Jin-hyeok to South Korea. In the end, the 2020 world champion, Canyon, will remain in the role, while Kanavi joins Hanwha Life Esports.

This time, it’ll be the right one

Gen.G and Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon had probably never been as close and as favored to win Worlds as they were in 2025. The roster looked unstoppable, nearly unbeatable. After losing in the final of the LCK Cup, the team never tasted defeat again, going on to claim the only LCK trophy of the year, winning back-to-back Mid-Season Invitational titles, and even breaking the record for the most consecutive best-of series victories. They were dominant from start to finish.

Yet at Worlds, the curse struck again. In 2022, it was DRX, Bilibili Gaming in 2023, in 2024, T1 — and this time, in 2025, Gen.G fell to KT Rolster. It was a crushing disappointment in a match and tournament that seemed theirs for the taking. But the gods of League of Legends can be cruel, and their favor once again went to Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and T1, who claimed their sixth world title.

The Best Five in the World

The five returning players have all, at one point or another — if not entirely — been considered the best in the world at their roles in 2025. Kim "Kiin" Gi-in had a stratospheric year and stood out as the best toplaner globally. In the jungle, Canyon went through a rough patch during Summer and Worlds, costing the team a few crucial games, but he remains a pillar of reliability.

Chovy spoke about it after Worlds — it can only be a mental block. There’s no other explanation for Gen.G’s collapse on the biggest stage. When the pressure peaks, flashy plays become harder, decisions less sharp, and doubt starts to creep in.

In the botlane, Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk's experience was invaluable throughout the year, though ultimately not enough to capture the grail. Meanwhile, Duro made his first Worlds appearance — far from disappointing after a season where he proved himself as a trustworthy asset for Gen.G, a trust confirmed by his contract extension.

In League of Legends, there’s no shortcut — Rome wasn’t built in a day. Gen.G will have to take another shot at glory. The Summoner’s Cup is there, almost taunting Chovy. This year again, he’ll have to play through the grind, likely dominating the LCK as he has in recent seasons, before heading to the USA to try and carve his name into the League of Legends pantheon.

Gen.G’s 2026 roster :