It's a rivalry that has now become one-sided. While the LCK and LPL have historically been the two powerhouses of global League of Legends, South Korea has clearly taken the upper hand in recent years. In fact, the LCK hasn’t lost to the LPL since October 18, 2024—an eternity in the world of esports. For several years now, the international stage has been largely dominated by South Korea, and that dominance is reflected in this brutal stat for China. LPL teams haven’t managed a single series win against LCK squads in nearly nine months, with the last coming in Bilibili Gaming’s quarterfinal victory over Hanwha Life Esports at Worlds 2024. Since then, seven best-of series have been played—at Worlds, the First Stand, and MSI—all won by South Korea. China just can’t seem to find a way through.
In recent years, the LCK truly seems to have pulled ahead of the LPL.
China hasn't won a World Championship since EDward Gaming's triumph in 2021, and while JD Gaming lifted the MSI trophy in 2023, the numbers remain grim for a region that, at the start of the decade, looked ready to close the gap with the world’s best. Despite reaching the Worlds final in both 2023 and 2024 with BLG and Weibo Gaming, LPL teams fell short each time against
T1. The same pattern held at MSI, where BLG were defeated 3-1 by
Gen.G in 2024.
The
LCK’s streak began in the quarterfinals of Worlds 2024, where T1 clean swept Top Esports. They went on to face BLG in the grand final and came out on top after a five-game series. At the First Stand, the LPL sent TES while the LCK was represented by HLE. Both in the group stage and in the semifinals, HLE made quick work of their opponents—
sweeping the BO3 and the BO5 for a combined 5-0. TES had a disappointing showing and left a poor impression overall.
The most recent clash came at MSI 2025. Gen.G first faced the LPL champions, Anyone’s Legend, and narrowly beat them 3-2. The following day, T1 cleaned swept BLG to reach the upper bracket final against Gen.G, which they lost. They then had to go through AL as well,
securing another 3-2 victory. While AL held their own and made a strong impression, each series showed that it simply wasn’t enough to take down South Korea—who always seemed one step ahead.
