The South Korean League of Legends (LoL) national team, featuring players Zeus (Choi Woo-jae), Canyon (Kim Gun-bu), Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok), Zeka (Kim Geon-woo), Gumayusi (Lee Min-hyeong), and Keria (Ryu Min-seok), has advanced to the finals. Faker's pursuit of a second consecutive title is on track.
On October 1, the team defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the semifinals held at the Aichi Sky Expo esports venue. Zeka was chosen to start as the mid-laner in place of Faker, with both players alternating throughout the tournament.
Having reached the finals, the team will face Taiwan on October 2 to determine the gold medal winner. Notably, China, considered a rival, has withdrawn from the tournament, and the host nation Japan is also absent, making South Korea the strongest contender for the championship.
The team has already faced Taiwan in the group stage, securing a 1-0 victory. They also defeated India and Hong Kong without dropping a single set.
If the team wins, Faker, Zeus, and Keria will achieve back-to-back titles. With this finals appearance, Faker has now secured medals in three consecutive tournaments, following a silver medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. This tournament also carries implications for military service exemptions, as winning a gold medal would qualify players for special status as arts and sports personnel. Canyon, Zeka, and Gumayusi are among those eligible for these benefits.
Additionally, there are discussions about the potential exclusion of esports from future competitions. However, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has stated, "No decisions have been made yet." In response, Faker remarked, "As a national representative, I see it as a great opportunity to bring joy to many people through a sport our country excels in. I hope esports, which many fans love, continues for a long time."
Meanwhile, South Korea has shown strong performance in esports at this tournament, winning three gold medals in fighting games, a silver in Puyo Puyo Champions, and bronze medals in Pokémon Unite and Gran Turismo 7. With the League of Legends team already securing at least a silver medal, attention turns to whether they can clinch the gold.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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