KesPA Cup Reveals New Dynamic in League of Legends Korean Scene
*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.
Jason Sudeikis, in an interview, said this season is the last for its Apple TV hit "Ted Lasso" but hinted that the conclusion could set up a spinoff show.
Digit Murphy, President of the professional women's ice hockey team Metropolitan Riveters, joins Cheddar News' Hena Doba on a walk and talk to talk about how she's re-imagining the hockey experience for fans and players, and why it's critical to invest in women's sports.
So far, baseball's new speed-up rules are working. The first-ever major league pitch clock and other rules have helped cut more than 20 minutes from spring training games through the first weekend.
Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks the game-winning field goal as punter Tommy Townsend (5) holds during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 57 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
