Preface: The S16 season matches have officially started, and most players have been paying close attention to the recent confrontations. The first split of LCK has been very intense, and the first team to be eliminated has already emerged. The HLE team, built with a 10 billion KRW investment, has become a laughingstock. In the round of ten to nine, they were the only team eliminated, missing out on the subsequent matches. There will be nearly two months of off-season ahead, and even the 0-5 Bro team can continue competing. In the post-match interview, their head coach Homme became the target of criticism, as he surprisingly blamed LPL, stating that both he and the jungler Kanavi just returned from LPL, and the differences in management style and pace caused many issues.

Homme eliminated and blaming LPL's pace

Most players still pay close attention to the HLE team. As one of the top teams in the LCK region, their overall performance in the past two years has been outstanding, especially last season when they won the first split championship of LCK and also claimed the inaugural global Pioneers tournament title. During this season’s transfer window, HLE made huge investments, acquiring the Finals MVP Xiaolübu and bringing in high-priced LPL coach Homme and jungler Kanavi. This lineup, built with a 10 billion KRW budget, was widely expected to be a rising star and a strong contender for the world championship this season.

However, in the first split of the LCK competition, they became the first team eliminated. Their fate was entirely in their own hands — just one victory would have secured advancement — yet they were mercilessly swept without any resistance. The Gen team played comfortably, winning all three matches decisively, with every lane performing perfectly, clearly demonstrating the gap between top LCK teams. Many even said that this year’s Chovy is different from before and seems to have a real chance to break his curse and win the ultimate world championship.

The reaction was so strong because this elimination was in the round of ten to nine, meaning only one team was knocked out. After the match, HLE’s head coach Homme accepted an interview and explained the defeat, admitting that the lineup, BP, and player conditions were factors. However, he went on to say there were many other reasons: both he and jungler Kanavi had just come back from LPL, and the operational style was different. They were constantly adjusting this part but still faced many disagreements, not just with the jungle position, as players had their own styles, causing incidents. Blaming LPL’s operational pace outright was unexpected — it’s like eating a meal and then smashing the plate on the floor.

Many Korean netizens also discussed the performance of this billion-won team, suggesting it might be better to seek employment in large companies, which offer high salaries and two months of vacation. The first game lasted 36 minutes and 4 seconds, the second 35 minutes and 2 seconds, the third 32 minutes and 25 seconds, and finally, the last game broke past 34 minutes and 43 seconds. The Bro team made history by advancing to the qualifiers with a 0-5 record, becoming the first team to advance by default. It seems the LCK format still needs some adjustments; although it provides plenty of excitement, it overly emphasizes group stage battles. Everyone relies on that period, but in the end, it still comes down to the teams’ individual results.

Farewell thoughts

It’s surprising that coach Homme has stooped to such shamelessness. After losing the match, he blamed LPL’s operational pace and claimed he was still adapting to LCK’s style. Wasn’t he originally an LCK coach? Hasn’t he spent years coaching in LPL and even returned to LCK before? Considering himself a top coach, can he really not adjust to the pace of the game after so long? His true colors showed after returning. If he still manages to find a job in LPL afterward, it would truly be a disgrace for us.

Dear viewers, what are your thoughts on this matter?