Buzz
The approach to match formats in LCK seems to be lacking in intensity compared to LPL in South Korea.
In recent years, the international performance of LPL has outshined LCK. Since MSI 2018, LCK has only secured one international title, the 2020 Worlds Championship by DAMWON Gaming. Meanwhile, LPL consistently claims major titles, causing concern among Korean LoL fans.
So, after T1's disappointment at MSI 2022, a hot topic in Korea is how LCK can match LPL in terms of strength. Interviews post-matches often raise this question, especially with players who have competed in both regions. For instance, after defeating DRX, Gen.G Peanut was asked about this and suggested that LCK needs to change its format by adding more Bo5 matches to catch up with LPL.
Question: Do you feel the number of Bo5 matches in the LCK is too low? Compare it to the LPL, for example?
Gen.G Peanut: I played in the LPL 2 years ago, and in the late stage of the summer tournament, I went through 5 Bo5 matches in just 9 days. Considering that, it's clear that LCK currently lacks enough Bo5 matches. In international tournaments, Bo5 matches are decisive. So, I believe LPL teams perform better than LCK due to the significant difference in the number of crucial matches.
For those unaware, the LCK tournament still employs a direct elimination format in its decisive stages. In the Spring 2022 LCK, T1, the champion, only had to play 2 Bo5 matches to clinch the prestigious title. Similarly, Gen.G, the runner-up, only competed in the Semifinals and Finals.
Contrastingly, in the Spring 2022 LPL, the champion RNG, despite dominating performances, had to play a minimum of 3 Bo5 matches. On the other hand, the second-place team, TES, had to 'climb the tower' from the second round, engaging in a total of 6 Bo5 matches on their journey. Playing intense matches like this made TES formidable, capable of defeating strong teams like V5 and LNG.
It's evident that it's time for the LCK to make changes to improve its performance if it doesn't want LPL to continue outshining it. Perhaps organizing fewer matches and focusing on creating content around players could enhance LCK's media presence and promote the tournament. However, unintentionally, this is causing a decline in the competitiveness of LCK teams.
