It’s one of the greatest anomalies in
League of Legends history. Regarded by (almost) everyone as the best player in the world for several years now, Jeong “
” Ji-hoon has yet to win the game’s ultimate prize, the tournament that makes and breaks kings, the World Championship.
2026 is the eighth consecutive year that Chovy has qualified for Worlds. For many, Gen.G’s midlaner can cement his status as the best player in the world only by lifting the most coveted trophy in Riot Games’ competitive scene. With four quarterfinal appearances and three semifinal finishes, Chovy has never been closer to lifting the Summoner’s Cup than in the past two years, when Gen.G were widely considered the favorites to win the tournament.
However,
in 2024 and
in 2025 had other plans. On both occasions, Gen.G were eliminated 3-1 by teams they had comfortably dominated on home soil. These results also mean Chovy has not only never won the Graal, but has never even made it to the final. But this year, Chovy may finally have what it takes to do so.
Why this year will be different
There are plenty of reasons to believe that this year will finally be Gen.G and Chovy’s year. First of all, the team once again dominated the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), winning the league’s only split of the year after defeating Hanwha Life Esports in the Grand Final.
Statistically, Gen.G’s players have been impressive. Chovy leads the LCK across all roles in KDA (5.8), followed by his teammates Joo "
" Min-kyu (5.6), Park "
" Jae-hyuk (5.5), and Kim "
" Geon-bu (5.1). Chovy is also the player who dies the least in the LCK, averaging just 1.9 deaths per game. Kim "
" Gi-in ranks 12th overall but leads all toplaners with a 4.2 KDA.
Well, gg Chovy for your impressive stats, but looking back at previous years, the midlaner has arguably dominated the LCK just as much, if not more, without translating that domestic success into international titles. This year, things have been even worse for Gen.G, as they were eliminated by
at First Stand and failed to qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational, a tournament they won last year. So why should this year be any different for Chovy and Gen.G?
Chovy’s Year of Triumph
Well, precisely because this year has been different. Gen.G didn’t win MSI, and are therefore no longer on course to achieve the elusive Golden Road, a feat that has eluded every team that has tried to conquer it. If 2026 has shattered the storyline of Gen.G’s year-long dominance, why should the narrative of Gen.G falling short at Worlds be any different?
On top of the team’s underwhelming international performances this year, Chovy’s repeated failure to even reach a Worlds final throughout his career means expectations surrounding both the player and his team are inevitably set to drop. As narratives surrounding his shortcomings continue to grow, the pressure on their shoulders could finally begin to ease.
That could be exactly what they need: not to enter the tournament as the outright favorites, not to be the team everyone fears, and not to have all the spotlight on them. Of course, given Chovy and Gen.G's status, expectations will still be high — and they actually remain favorites. However, the spotlight will once again be on T1, even more so on Hanwha Life Esports, as well as on
.
2026 will be the year Chovy finally etches his name onto the Summoner’s Cup for the first time. At 25, it is more than time for the prince to claim his throne and wear the crown he has been promised since his early days on the competitive scene.
