Gen.G's Epic Comeback Against Hanwha Life Esports in LCK MSI Qualifier

On June 13 at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium, Gen.G faced off against Hanwha Life Esports in the third round of the 2025 LCK MSI Representative Qualifier. Despite an initial setback falling behind 0:2, Gen.G mounted a thrilling comeback by winning three consecutive games, seizing victory with a spectacular reverse sweep. After experiencing repeated losses to Hanwha Life in their recent best-of-five matchups, Gen.G defied the odds to triumph decisively and claim revenge.

Hanwha Life Esports began Game 1 with a solid performance, especially in the bottom lane where Park “Viper” Do-hyeon’s Varus picked up key kills. This initial advantage was reinforced by capitalizing on a skirmish near the jungle against Yoo “Delight” Hwan-joong’s Nautilus. Although Gen.G struggled early on, they turned the tide with well-coordinated teamfights.

At the dragon pit, Gen.G expertly managed agro, securing multiple kills. In the top lane, Hanwha Life countered by collapsing onto Han “Peanut” Wang-ho’s Taliyah, using Sylas and Rumble to make their move. Gen.G swiftly responded by pressuring the Rift Herald, and both teams engaged in a contest resulting in traded kills.

Gen.G later managed to catch Peanut’s Poppy in mid-game action and transitioned to secure Baron. In the ensuing battle, Chovy’s Taliyah clinched a triple kill, swinging the momentum in Gen.G’s favor. They further reinforced their lead with success in the next dragon fight. However, Hanwha Life fiercely battled back. During another Baron attempt by Gen.G, Hanwha Life regained control, securing Dragon Soul. Chovy’s clutch play spotted a chance for Gen.G to claim an advantage briefly, but Hanwha Life seized the opportunity to take the Elder Dragon and emerge victorious in Game 1.

Game 2 saw Hanwha Life striking first again by targeting Chovy’s Ryze and forcing critical summoner spells from Ruler’s Ezreal. In the succeeding dragon fight, they efficiently knocked down Canyon’s Trundle, swiftly stacking two dragons. Dominance in the following dragon fight extended their lead. Although Gen.G managed to snag the third dragon to pause Hanwha’s stacking, their attempt at a Baron sneak was thwarted by Hanwha Life’s superior teamfight.

Gen.G attempted a comeback by scoring a pick in mid and capturing Baron, momentarily leveling the playing field. Nonetheless, Hanwha Life secured victory in a critical mid lane encounter, advancing deeper into Gen.G’s territory and nullifying their Baron power boost. Hanwha Life cleanly clinched both Baron and Dragon Soul, subsequently destroying Gen.G’s Nexus at the 33-minute mark, elevating their lead to 2:0.

In Game 3, while Hanwha Life drew first blood yet again, Gen.G retaliated by pinning down Zeka’s Sylas at level five in mid-lane. Leveraging Skarner, Gen.G applied pressure mid, repeatedly trapping Sylas and permitting Chovy’s Aurora to secure an advantage. A skillfully executed fight at the dragon saw Gen.G seizing control, boosting their gold lead to 4,000 by 15 minutes. Despite setbacks, Hanwha Life regained footing by invading Gen.G’s jungle, evening out the kills and shrinking the gold gap slightly.

Focusing pressure on Chovy’s Aurora in the top lane, Hanwha Life secured a kill, yet wasted valuable time. Gen.G reacted by initiating the Rift Herald, claiming a fight win from their gold advantage, although Hanwha Life adeptly negotiated a 3-for-5 trade. Then, Gen.G furthered their lead by toppling Corki in the top lane, pressing forward to the second turret, securing Baron, and systematically attacking mid to demolish the Nexus, shifting the series to 1:2.

In Game 4, Canyon’s Lee Sin was proactive from the outset, aiding Gen.G in claiming kills mid and top. Hanwha Life responded, catching Delight’s Alistar during a rotation, claiming first blood. Gen.G seized the first dragon, clashing over the next one, where Canyon stole the dragon successfully. Gen.G gradually took command of the map and built a substantial gold lead while accumulating three dragons.

Prompted by Hanwha Life’s initiative on Baron, Gen.G stayed strategic, outmaneuvering their opponents in a crucial skirmish, vastly extending their advantage. Although Hanwha Life orchestrated a critical teamfight to stall Gen.G’s dragon accumulation, even eliminating Lee Sin and approaching Baron, Gen.G’s subsequent contest blocked Hanwha’s advance, using a chain of crowd control to execute three key kills, tied the series at 2:2 by dismantling the Nexus.

The decisive Game 5 began with Peanut’s Lillia attempting an unsuccessful top lane dive on Kiin’s Aatrox, forcing her to expend Flash. During the first dragon encounter, Zeka’s Jayce strategically zoned Chovy’s Zoe, allowing Hanwha Life an advantageous position, though Canyon’s Wukong managed to secure the dragon. With Gen.G claiming a second dragon stack and asserting their presence in the game by picking off Zoe and Braum in bottom, gaining two crucial kills and dominating with a third dragon stack.

Facing a precarious situation, Hanwha Life regrouped for the next dragon fight, launching a clean execution to halt Gen.G’s Soul point momentum. Although they couldn’t secure Dragon Soul, Gen.G’s map control intensified, amplifying their terrain supremacy. They decisively overcame Hanwha Life in teamfights, acquired Baron, and stretched the gold gap significantly. Ultimately, Gen.G completed their heroic comeback with three consecutive victories, defeating Hanwha Life Esports 3:2 to seize the LCK’s top spot for MSI—an emphatic triumph in best-of-five competition.