The 2025 KeSPA Cup showcased an intense competition, featuring 10 LCK squads and international teams like Team Liquid and Cloud9. This tournament was a pivotal moment for Korean players aiming to prove their skills ahead of the new season and potentially secure spots for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games.
The 2025 KeSPA Cup was more competitive than ever, featuring 10 LCK squads, as well as teams from overseas.
T1 Is Still T1
Despite facing early setbacks, T1 demonstrated why it remains a formidable presence in the esports world. After slipping to the lower bracket following a loss to Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), T1 clawed its way back, ultimately triumphing over HLE in the grand final rematch. The team’s resilience, even with recent roster changes like the addition of ADC Kim ‘Peyz’ Su-hwan, highlights its enduring strength.
The LCK Could Be Much More Competitive
The tournament previewed a potentially thrilling 2026 LCK season, with fewer apparent divides between the top and mid-tier teams. Hanwha Life Esports and Dplus KIA both exhibited strong performances, suggesting a more competitive league. Teams like DN Freecs and Nongshim RedForce also showed promise, signaling that the upcoming season could see a shake-up in team standings.
2026 Will Be the Year of ADCs?
The KeSPA Cup highlighted the prowess of ADC players, who delivered spectacular performances, including multiple pentakills. With upcoming season changes enhancing the impact of ADCs, 2026 could be dominated by these marksmen. Players like HLE’s Gumayusi and DN Freecs’ Enosh stood out, and the stage is set for ADCs to shine even brighter.
The LCS Teams Still Have a Lot to Catch Up On
Cloud9 and Team Liquid aimed to test their skills against Korean teams but encountered significant challenges. Team Liquid was eliminated in the group stage, while Cloud9 advanced slightly further before being knocked out. The tournament underscored the gap between Eastern and Western teams, highlighting that LCS teams have much work to do for international success.
More Exclusive Livestream Broadcaster Tournaments?
The KeSPA Cup marked a significant shift in broadcasting, with Disney+ serving as an exclusive livestream broadcaster. This change suggests a possible trend towards exclusive streaming rights outside of Twitch and YouTube, especially in regions like South Korea where Twitch is unavailable. This move could redefine how future tournaments are managed both competitively and commercially.