Hanwha Life Insurance seized victory over Top Esports (TES) from the Chinese LPL, defeating them 3:0 in the semi-finals of the 'First Stand' tournament held at LoL Park, Seoul. This triumph not only secured their spot in the finals, but also marked them as the representative of LCK, ready to take on European powerhouse Karmine Corp (KC) on March 16, 2025.
The 'First Stand' is the inaugural global eSports League of Legends event of 2025, bringing together champions from five regions to vie for the ultimate title. Kicking off on March 10, the tournament runs until March 16, featuring thrilling matches among the world's best eSports athletes.
During the quarter-finals, Hanwha Life showcased remarkable prowess against TES, wrapping up each of the three sets with astute strategy and teamwork. From the very first set, it became evident this would not be just another match for TES. They concentrated heavily on countering Hanwha's star player, Zeus, but intense warring strategies led Hanwha to victory. Gaining momentum with repeated successful clashes, they secured the opening set smoothly.
Set two saw TES attempt to mount some resistance, with ace player Lin Zhen of TES collaborating effectively with Seo Jin-hyeok to gain early kills. Yet Hanwha Life retaliated with outstanding plays from Kon-yu (Zeka) and Peanut, managing to overwhelm TES again and leading the score to 2:0.
By the third set, TES adopted more focused operations, hoping for resurgence. They initiated skirmishes and gained some advantages, but Hanwha's impeccable coordination and superior buff management turned the tide once more. The match concluded within around 33 minutes, firmly placing Hanwha at the finals.
With such dominant performance, the expectation is high for Hanwha Life as they prepare to clash with Karmine Corp. Historically, Hanwha had lost to KC during the previous round-robin stage of the tournament, which raises both apprehension and excitement for the upcoming final match.
Post-match, Zeus reflected on the match commentary, stating, “Today’s game had its fair share of mistakes, but thanks to my teammates, we pulled off the 3:0 win. TES’s jungle support was impressively aggressive compared to our previous matches.”
When speaking about the champion picks, Zeus was optimistic, affirming the diversity of choices, “We’ve experimented with quite the array of champions. So, there might be surprises on the final day.” Meanwhile, Zeka noted earlier decisions from their round-robin matches aided their strategy today, saying, “Our champion picks were actually leading up to this point, focusing on our main champions for the important matches.”
A lighthearted exchange ensued about the Player of the Match (POM) selection, with Zeus wanting to nominate Zeka and Zeka appreciating the compliment yet pointing back to Zeus’s contributions. “The top played good; it was tough with dives, but I want to credit Zeus for leading us all the way,” said Zeka.
Looking toward the finale against Karmine Corp (KC), Zeus shared confidence, noting, “When we faced them last time, we could have easily lost if we weren’t careful. The finals will certainly be hard-fought.” Zeka added, “I know Bladi is aggressive from the lane phase, but I intend to start off by greeting him first this time.”
With the eyes of the eSports community focused on the upcoming showdown, it's poised to be another thrilling chapter for Hanwha Life, who are now fueled by recent triumph yet wise to the challenges faced previously against Karmine Corp. Their path forward is bright, but the competition remains fierce. The concluding battle will truly test their skills and resolve.