With 'Faker' absent, LoL national team secures back-to-back titles with a 3-0 sweep of Taiwan... Three players earn military service exemption benefits [Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean League of Legends (LoL) esports national team defeated Taiwan decisively to win gold medals at the Asian Games for the second consecutive time.

On the 2nd, Korea claimed the top spot by defeating Taiwan with a set score of 3-0 in the LoL esports final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Korea, which achieved an undefeated championship when the event was first adopted as a formal medal sport at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, also maintained an unbeaten streak from the group stage to the final at this tournament, building a golden tower of back-to-back titles.

'Faker' Lee Sang-hyeok, 'Zeus' Choi Woo-je, and 'Keria' Ryu Min-seok won gold medals at the Asian Games for the second consecutive time. 'Canyon' Kim Geon-bu, 'Zeka' Kim Geon-woo, and 'Kumayusi' Lee Min-hyung, who secured their first-ever gold medals, will receive military service exemption benefits.

Team captain Lee Sang-hyeok did not take the field in the final on this day, following his absence in the semifinals. Kim Geon-woo, who stepped in as the midlaner for the final stage, delivered a decisive performance to fill the void left by Lee Sang-hyeok.

The outcome of the final was decided by Korea's overwhelming late-game strength. In the early stages of Set 1 and Set 2, Korea fell behind Taiwan's aggressive offensive pressure, ceding the kill score, global gold, and dragon stacks, which put them in a crisis.

However, they proved their status as the world's strongest team through their focus in mid-to-late game teamfights. After pulling off a dramatic comeback by securing an ace in a skirmish near the dragon around the 23rd-minute mark of Set 1, Korea also won a decisive elder dragon teamfight around the 33rd-minute mark of Set 2 to destroy the nexus and take match point.

Riding their momentum, Korea unsettled Taiwan with solid macro play in Set 3. After calmly repelling the opponent's early bottom dive pressure, Korea steadily accumulated dragon stacks to seize control. After securing a decisive victory in a skirmish around the 22nd-minute mark to firmly grasp the initiative, they consecutively secured Baron Nashor and Elder Dragon buffs before advancing into the enemy base to complete a 3-0 shutout victory in just over 30 minutes.

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*This content was translated by AI.