Kha Y Tran On February 1, 2026, LCK fans witnessed a dominant performance from Gen.G Esports against Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) in the LCK Cup 2026. From the very beginning, Gen.G took control of the map. As a result, with clean teamfighting, strong vision control, and superior macro play, they closed out the BO5 series with a convincing 3–0 victory, and therefore secured their place in the next stage of the tournament.
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General Draft (Ban/Pick) Analysis
First of all, Gen.G built their drafts around teamfighting and objective control. They prioritized champions with strong engage tools, solid positioning, and high effectiveness in 5v5 fights. In addition, their compositions had everything needed to control Dragons and Baron, pick off isolated targets and win extended teamfights
This allowed Gen.G to stay in control throughout the mid-to-late game.
On the other hand, HLE drafted for early-game pressure. However, they lacked a solid late-game plan. Although their champions could create early skirmishes, their compositions didn’t offer enough consistent damage in the late game. Moreover, weak protection for their ADC meant that, once the game slowed down, HLE struggled heavily in full teamfights.
Detailed Game Breakdown
Game 1: Gen.G Fully Control the Match
From the laning phase onward, Gen.G showed clear superiority. Top and mid lanes held stable waves, while Gen.G’s jungler aggressively invaded HLE’s jungle. At the same time, he placed deep vision and secured control around the first Dragon.
At minute 8, Gen.G secured the first Elemental Dragon. Shortly after, they forced a small skirmish that cost HLE a kill.
Then, by minute 12, Gen.G took the Rift Herald and dropped it mid to destroy the first turret. As a result, the map opened up early in their favor.
HLE tried to respond with a few pick attempts. However, Gen.G read every situation perfectly. By minute 20, Gen.G had full control over the Baron area.
Soon after, a major fight broke out around Baron. Gen.G won the 4v5 teamfight, wiped HLE, and took Baron.
Consequently, they pushed all three lanes and ended the game at minute 28.
Game 2: HLE Resist, but Gen.G’s Macro Shines
At first, Game 2 started evenly. HLE swapped lanes early to avoid pressure and focused on protecting their ADC. Nevertheless, Gen.G once again showed their superior macro.
In the mid game, both teams traded 1–1 in kills. However, Gen.G still secured the Dragon. By minute 15, Gen.G controlled both side lanes. Therefore, HLE were forced to split up to defend.
HLE then made a critical mistake in the lower jungle by losing vision. Because of that, Gen.G caught HLE’s jungler and immediately rushed Baron. With Baron buff, Gen.G forced nonstop fights. In turn, they destroyed five turrets in a row and dominated the map.
Finally, a decisive mid-lane teamfight saw Gen.G wipe HLE and extend the series lead to 2–0.
Game 3: Gen.G Close the Series in Style
With nothing to lose, HLE played aggressively in Game 3. Early on, they secured the first Dragon and held a slight gold lead. However, Gen.G stayed calm. Instead, they grouped up and focused on vision control. At the same time, they stretched HLE’s formation.
At minute 19, a fight around the third Dragon broke out. This time, Gen.G executed the teamfight perfectly, killing three HLE members. Afterwards, they followed up by taking Baron. With Baron buff once again, Gen.G pushed all three lanes. Although HLE defended desperately, it wasn’t enough.
In the final fight, Gen.G wiped HLE one last time and, as a result, closed out the BO5 with a 3–0 victory.
Match Highlights
- Gen.G controlled every Dragon and Baron throughout the series, using the buffs to snowball and deny any comeback chances.
- They constantly stretched HLE across the map, forcing them to defend side lanes and preventing proper teamfight setups.
- In every 5v5, Gen.G had better positioning, cleaner target selection, and faster execution.
- Even when HLE gained early leads, Gen.G turned the game around through vision control and superior objective fights.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the win over HLE sends Gen.G and Group Baron into the next stage. More importantly, the series clearly showed the gap in class and tactical discipline. Gen.G didn’t just win through individual skill. Instead, they won through complete control of the game. If they maintain this form, they are, without a doubt, strong candidates for the LCK Cup 2026 championship.
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Quynh Bui 
