Hanwha Life Esports LOL Team Eliminated in EWC Quarterfinals

Hanwha Life Esports faced elimination in the quarterfinals.

The Hanwha Life Esports League of Legends team (hereafter Hanwha Life) advanced to the quarterfinals through the group stage of the Esports World Cup (hereafter EWC) that started on July 16 (Korean time). In the single-elimination group stage, they secured their spot in the quarterfinals by defeating CTBC Flying Oyster from the LCP (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and other Asian leagues) and Movistar Riders from the LEC (European League).

On July 17, Hanwha Life faced off against LPL (Chinese League) Animals Legend (AL) and lost the first set but gained momentum in the second set. The two teams were evenly matched at 1:1 in the EWC League of Legends quarterfinals, which was played in a best-of-three format. However, in the third set, Hanwha Life could not maintain their early momentum and suffered a significant defeat in the mid-game team fight, leading to AL's advantage. Ultimately, Hanwha Life could not turn the tide and lost the third set.

As a result, Hanwha Life became the first team among the LCK (Korean League) representatives to be eliminated in the EWC, following their failure to qualify for the MSI (Mid-Season Invitational). After their elimination, Hanwha Life had to watch as their team logo was destroyed by a hydraulic press according to EWC regulations. The qualifying teams, Gen.G Esports and T1, advanced directly to the quarterfinals without a group stage, having secured spots among the top four teams in MSI, and are set to compete on the 18th. Both teams reached the MSI finals and are now heading straight into the EWC quarterfinals. Gen.G Esports is the MSI champion, while T1 is the reigning EWC League of Legends champion, garnering expectations from domestic fans.

The Esports World Cup (hereafter EWC) is a global esports tournament that encompasses various genres, including 'Valorant', 'League of Legends', 'Tekken 8', 'Rainbow Six Siege X', 'FC25', and 'PUBG', where professional gamers compete fiercely. This year's event will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 8 (local time) to August 24.