Gen.G emerged as the top pick to win the upcoming 2026 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) regular season, with nine rival head coaches voting in their favor during the league’s Media Day.
Riot Games organized the event on March 26th at the LCK Arena in Chzzk LoL Park in Seoul, bringing together coaches and players from all ten teams in preparation for the season starting on April 1st.
The LCK, a premier professional League of Legends competition in South Korea, will feature a single-season format for the 2026 regular season, running from April to September.
Key figures in attendance included Yoo Sang-wook, Head Coach of Gen.G, with mid laner Jeong ‘Chovy’ Ji-hoon; Lim Jae-hyun, Acting Head Coach of T1, alongside Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok; and Yoon Sung-young, Head Coach of Hanwha Life Esports, with Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyung.
According to reports, all nine opposing head coaches selected Gen.G as the favorite to clinch the regular season title. Coaches cited the team’s overall individual skill level and its proficiency in avoiding errors. Yoo, however, named T1 as his personal choice for the title, praising their consistent performance under any circumstances.
Several players also shared their ambitions beyond domestic competition during the event. BNK FEARX player Nam ‘Diable’ Dae-geun expressed his goal of not only winning the regular season but also qualifying for the prestigious League of Legends World Championship.
Meanwhile, Gumayusi from Hanwha Life Esports revealed the team’s aim to remain unbeaten in the initial two rounds and secure a spot in the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), scheduled to be held in Daejeon.
Teams Reflect on Past Results
The Media Day also saw discussions on teams that faced challenges in previous competitions, such as the LCK Cup and First Stand.
Yoo and Chovy from Gen.G mentioned their disappointment with the team’s lack of flexibility in drafting during previous events. BNK FEARX Head Coach Park Jun-seok reflected on their defeat against G2 Esports, highlighting a dip in team morale after losing the second game of the series. He mentioned that the team engaged in a constructive feedback session post-defeat, leading to productive discussions.
Hanwha Life Esports, questioned about their form following a disappointing LCK Cup run, expressed optimism. Gumayusi stated that the team’s performance and synergy had improved by 20% since then and that they were prepared to showcase better results in the regular season.
LCK Announces Roadshow Plans for 2026
Prior to the Media Day, Lee Jung-hoon, Secretary-General of the LCK, outlined strategies to enhance fan engagement through more live events in South Korea and abroad. 2026 was dubbed “the year of roadshows” after the LCK’s successful overseas roadshow in Hong Kong earlier in the year.
The league revealed plans for upcoming key events, including the ‘Road to MSI’ qualifier in Wonju, MSI in Daejeon, and the 2026 LCK Finals at Seoul’s KSPO Dome. Lee emphasized the expansion of touchpoints with fans, aiming to develop the LCK into premium global content accessible to all generations through team roadshows.
The 2026 LCK regular season will kick off on April 1st with a match between Hanwha Life Esports and Hanwha Brion. Matches are scheduled from Wednesday to Sunday, with two series per day. Live match broadcasts will be available on streaming platforms like Chzzk and SOOP, while tickets for in-person attendance can be purchased through NOL Ticket nine days before each match.