*By Brandon Brathwaite*
League of Legends' Korean scene has a new look.
While the region's SK Telecom T1 has remained the dominant force in competitions, other contenders threaten its position. In particular, last season saw teams like Griffin and KT Rolster take advantage of a weakened SKT T1, which missed the Worlds Finals in 2018 for the first time in several years.
So what's next for LoL ー and will SK Telecom T1 make a triumphant return to glory?
According to League of Legends analyst and reporter, Emily Rand, last month's KesPA Cup 2018 provided a glimpse into the the future of the game for the upcoming LCK Season. Rand said that the new season will likely involve a resurgence of SK Telecom T1 "demon king" Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok.
"He has a good team around him," she told Cheddar Sports.
But, she added, "now it's going to depend on the team coming around him as a whole."
The team is in a tenuous spot after landing in eighth place in the KesPA Cup, falling to DAMWON Gaming. Griffin had a stellar outing at KesPA, nabbing the first tournament win.
Other teams like Gen. G, the former World champions and second place finishers at KesPA Cup, showed they'll be part of the conversation once the new season begins later this month.
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The subject of gambling and esports has become a point of serious tension for gamers. For companies like Unikrn, which built its platform on the practice of esports betting, battling that stigma is a central, implicit part of the operation. According to CEO and co-founder Rahul Sood, the company is determined to make betting on esports a “safe, legal, and relegated” space.
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Four years ago, Aziz “Hax$” Al-Yami was one of the best Super Smash Bros. Melee players in the world. But after suffering what he said felt like “an explosion” in his left wrist, Hax’s once-impressive tournament performances were marred by serious physical pain. So he found his own solution: a different type of controller. Hax talked to Cheddar Sports about his life-changing design.
Disney's new streaming service and its acquisition of Fox assets will be the main fixation when the entertainment giant reports earnings and revenue after market close on Thursday.
Alex Rodriguez parlayed a lucrative and controversial baseball career into a successful second act as the CEO of his own investment firm, A-ROD Corp. He spoke to Cheddar about his investment strategy.
Kip Levin, president and COO of FanDuel Group, said that the partnership with the New Jersey Devils will be helpful in expanding the FanDuel experience. New Jersey was the second state to legalize sports betting, opening up opportunities with companies like FanDuel and DraftKings.
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Orangetheory Fitness may have the signature buzz of a workout fad, but CEO Dave Long has a plan to ensure the longevity of the fitness franchise ー and of its members. His idea? Data.
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