The new LCK season rankings have been released, with T1 placing second; the three giants stand firm, and GEN’s strength remains unpredictable.

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Following the end of the LCK transfer period, the KeSPA Cup was held, culminating in T1’s victory over HLE to secure the title. Afterward, the LCK will swiftly begin its preseason training for the new season.

With all teams’ lineups confirmed, the rankings for the new season have just been unveiled.

LCK team rankings: GEN’s strength remains hard to predict.

The biggest news from this year’s LCK transfer window was the departure of T1’s championship roster member, Gumayusi, who joined HLE. Meanwhile, GEN’s Canyon was announced as a free agent but quickly re-signed with GEN, meaning no player changes will occur for GEN next season.

However, GEN’s coaching staff underwent changes, with Helper and Kim Jung-soo both moving to the LPL region.

Whether the coaching changes will benefit GEN in the new season is uncertain. Historically, coaching shifts in the LCK have not drastically affected team results because the baseline team strength is high. The key role of a new coach is to elevate the team to the highest level and win top-tier matchups.

If the coach can withstand pressure during peak matches and deliver outstanding draft picks, while providing players with tactical and psychological support, then they have a chance to lead teams like GEN to the summit.

Personally, I believe GEN’s performance next year will be the biggest mystery in the LCK, as they have dominated the league for years but underperformed at international events.

The three giants stand tall, with T1 ranked second again.

GEN might see a decline in individual player skills next year, which could reduce their league dominance. The key factors will be the performances of veteran jungle Canyon and bottom laner Ruler. If either declines, it could impact the whole team. Chovy’s league performance, however, remains reliably strong.

Due to GEN’s consistently stable league showings, they are ranked first again for the new season, while T1, fresh off their world and KeSPA Cup championships, come in second.

This situation arises partly because GEN’s league strength is genuinely impressive, and partly because T1’s recent league results have been subpar. T1 is clearly focusing on winning the world championship, so they don’t need to give their all in the league.

If GEN declines and T1 continues their relatively weak league form, then the team most likely to take the championship could be third-place HLE. We saw a similar scenario play out during this year’s Rift Rivals.

Next year’s LCK will largely be a three-team battle among these giants, maintaining a similar landscape to this year.

The strength of the T1 system keeps them among the top contenders.

From my perspective, considering the overall strength of the LCK’s big three, T1 remains the top favorite to win the world championship next year. Replacing Gumayusi with Peyz in the bottom lane may not weaken the team; it might actually strengthen it, as the T1 system’s value remains intact, and Peyz can serve as a core player for the team.

During Gumayusi’s time at T1, the team couldn’t easily adapt all strategies around him, and the coaching staff didn’t fully trust him, which led to his departure being decided well before the world championship began.

With the support of T1’s system, Peyz is likely to reach the peak of his career.

The few chances T1 might miss the championship mostly hinge on Doran performing poorly, but based on this year’s world championship, as long as Doran plays steadily and avoids risky moves, T1 will remain ahead.

Editor

In contrast, GEN is likely to experience a decline next year, both in league performance and possibly repeating past patterns at the world championship.

On the LPL side, the best chance lies in hoping these three LCK powerhouses, especially T1, fail to reach their peak, while LPL’s strong teams perform exceptionally well to pull off an upset and achieve notable success against LCK teams.