The grand final of LCK Summer 2023 concluded with a score of 3-0 in favor of Gen.G. This result makes Gen.G one of the three LCK teams to win the tournament three times or more (the other two being SKT T1/T1 and Damwon Gaming/Dplus KIA). At the same time, Peyz also became one of the youngest AD carries in the LCK to win this tournament more than twice. Peyz’s achievement is even more impressive than his predecessor Ruler, who played for Gen.G for many years but only secured one LCK championship.
However, many fans expressed disappointment with the results of both teams. T1’s loss was somewhat predictable. Throughout Summer 2023, T1 has been particularly weak and was not highly regarded before entering the playoffs. In fact, many fans even speculated that T1 might have to play in the regional qualifiers if KT chose them. However, Gen.G demonstrated absolute dominance in all three games, making the match feel one-sided. This led many fans to consider it a boring final.
One blunt opinion stated: “This match was actually far less thrilling than the lower bracket final or any playoffs match of LCK Summer. Gen.G was truly ‘outclassing’ T1. They deserved to win, and T1 was predicted to lose. But I didn’t expect the match to unfold like this. Perhaps the most interesting part of this final was only in the analysis by MC Laure.”
In fact, the match did seem a bit one-sided. However, according to statistics from the esports site Esports Chart, the match between T1 and KT had higher viewership than the lower bracket final between T1 – KT Rolster (over 1.5 million views compared to over 1.4 million for the T1 – KT match). But indeed, in all three games, although T1 and Gen.G employed various tactics, Gen.G’s dominance was absolute. And almost all followed a similar script: T1 had a slight advantage early on, Gen.G accelerated unexpectedly, Peyz dealt massive damage, and T1 succumbed.
But it cannot be denied that both T1 and Gen.G deserve praise. T1 deserves credit for their effort to reach the final stage. As for Gen.G, they are simply too strong in the domestic league. Both teams are undoubtedly top contenders for the 2023 World Championship to be held in the Land of the Morning Calm soon.