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Esports | 4 October 2026
South Korea has defended its League of Legends Asian Games gold medal in emphatic fashion, defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the final at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
The result gave South Korea back-to-back League of Legends titles after its victory at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, where the game made its debut as an official medal event.
A flawless tournament
South Korea finished the 2026 tournament without dropping a game. The team topped Group B with wins over Chinese Taipei, India and Hong Kong, swept Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the semi-final and then closed the event with a straight-series win in the final.
That unbeaten run underlined the depth of South Korea’s roster as well as the country’s continued dominance in one of competitive gaming’s biggest titles.
Faker adds another Asian Games gold
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was part of the gold-medal squad, earning his second Asian Games title. The team also included Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu, Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok.
Faker’s presence remains a major draw for international esports audiences, but South Korea’s campaign was notable for how effectively the squad performed across different line-ups during the tournament.
Why this gold matters
The Asian Games gives esports a level of national-team significance that differs from the club-based professional circuit. Players compete for their countries rather than their usual organisations, and medals carry the same official status as those won in traditional sports at the Games.
South Korea also finished the wider esports program with five medals across nine events: two gold, one silver and two bronze.
League of Legends keeps its place on the medal stage
League of Legends has now produced two consecutive Asian Games champions, both from South Korea. The tournament’s packed venue and international fan interest further reinforced how firmly esports has entered the mainstream multi-sport calendar.
Sources: Yonhap News Agency and Inven Global.
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