KesPA Cup Reveals New Dynamic in League of Legends Korean Scene
*By Brandon Brathwaite*
League of Legends' Korean scene has a new look.
While the region's SK Telecom T1 has remained the dominant force in competitions, other contenders threaten its position. In particular, last season saw teams like Griffin and KT Rolster take advantage of a weakened SKT T1, which missed the Worlds Finals in 2018 for the first time in several years.
So what's next for LoL ー and will SK Telecom T1 make a triumphant return to glory?
According to League of Legends analyst and reporter, Emily Rand, last month's KesPA Cup 2018 provided a glimpse into the the future of the game for the upcoming LCK Season. Rand said that the new season will likely involve a resurgence of SK Telecom T1 "demon king" Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok.
"He has a good team around him," she told Cheddar Sports.
But, she added, "now it's going to depend on the team coming around him as a whole."
The team is in a tenuous spot after landing in eighth place in the KesPA Cup, falling to DAMWON Gaming. Griffin had a stellar outing at KesPA, nabbing the first tournament win.
Other teams like Gen. G, the former World champions and second place finishers at KesPA Cup, showed they'll be part of the conversation once the new season begins later this month.
It's opening day for Major League Baseball and with the new season comes new and revamped rules aimed at accelerating game-play and boosting fan interest in the game.
The final four games of March Madness are this weekend, and Kristina Lavallee, founder and CEO of The Cake Girl, has some basketball-themed baking ideas for fans who are hosting viewing parties. The Instagram-famous baker recently got a special order from Tom Brady for his 45th birthday.
Now, the No. 5 seed Hurricanes (29-7) have a date with No. 4 seed UConn on Saturday night in Houston. Two more Final Four newbies, fifth-seeded San Diego State and No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic, will play in the other national semifinal.
Track and field banned transgender athletes from international competition Thursday, while adopting new regulations that could keep Caster Semenya and other athletes with differences in sex development from competing.