Gen.G and HLE play out astounding series in Worlds Quarter-Finals; 59-minute Game 2 an instant classic
Gen.G defeated HLE 3-1 in a remarkable series in the League of Legends Worlds quarter-finals. While the result mirrors the scoreline of the LCK Finals 2025, the series was highly competitive throughout.
The series included an incredible 59-minute Game 2 contest, which saw both teams step into each other’s bases before an astonishing conclusion.
The series marked a goodbye for Han ‘Peanut’ Wang-ho. The former LCK and MSI champion departs League of Legends to enter South Korea’s mandatory military service.
League of Legends Worlds quarter-finals, Game 1: Gen.G outlast HLE fightback
Game 1 saw HLE make the surprise pick of Pantheon support on Yoo ‘Delight’ Hwan-joong.
The composition, combining Sejuani and Pantheon, gave HLE the ability to find early kills but also the need to do so, as Gen.G would outscale them otherwise.
A top gank, followed by a pick onto Joo ‘Duro’ Min-kyu gave HLE a 2-0 kill lead early, but Gen.G were well aware of HLE’s aim, and did not give HLE easy engagements early on.
By the time the first real fight came at Rift Herald, Jeong ‘Chovy’ Ji-hoon and Kim ‘Canyon’ Geon-bu were significantly outscaling HLE already.
HLE attempted the first engagement around Rift Herald, but their initial barrage achieved nothing and left them disconnected and unsure. Gen.G punished HLE’s hesitation to go 3-0 in the teamfight.
HLE knew their win condition now was to go for everything without any more hesitation.
They captured the Atakhan after picking off an isolated Chovy, but the next Dragon fight was a disaster for HLE despite Park ‘Viper’ Do-hyeon spiking in power.
Another botched engagement for HLE proved they did not have the damage to deal with Gen.G, so they forced Baron instantly to play to their small chances of success.
The contest was fairly equal as a whole, with HLE getting the first Baron despite losing two players in the fight. HLE punished Kim ‘Kiin’ Gi-in and Joo ‘Duro’ Min-kyu for a lack of awareness on the next dragon.
However, Gen.G never panicked. The LCK champions showed their superiority in the decisive fight, finally putting HLE to bed at Baron.
As HLE tried to reposition, Choi ‘Zeus’ Woo-je was bumped into the pit. Gen.G pushed the remaining HLE champions, with Duro’s Pop Blossom obliterating HLE once and for all.
Only a respawned Zeus was there to contest the Nexus as it swiftly fell in Game 1 of the League of Legends Worlds quarter-finals.
Game 2: 1 hour of pure cinema
As Game 2 started, no one could have anticipated the contest that would soon unfold.
Kim ‘Kiin’ Gi-in caught Zeus early on a few occasions, but Peanut kept the contest even with early lane dives.
As the game continued, the gold and kills stayed even, but a pattern emerged where Gen.G were more alert and ready for objectives.
That allowed Gen.G to secure three dragons and Atakhan, with a fourth Dragon potentially being fatal for HLE.
The threat of the dragon soul forced HLE to contest the next spawn, and a bizarre stand-off where Peanut and Canyon stared at each other, awaiting the other to fight the dragon.
HLE secured that Drake, and the next three consecutive dragons to get that coveted Soul. Zeus also found redemption for earlier mistakes, with a huge play on Baron to help his team go 2-0 in the teamfight.
It looked totally in HLE’s hands, and they looked for a finish, but Chovy’s Orianna saved the day as a Shockwave pushed HLE back.
What followed was one of the most extraordinary contests in League of Legends history, as neither team could force a finish.
Gen.G captured Baron, but could not kill Viper’s Ziggs to put HLE to rest definitively.
The protracted contest triggered the Elder Dragon, with Gen.G seemingly finding the decisive advantage, but HLE fended off Gen.G’s attempt to end, and the Elder buff timed out.
The teams shaped up for another engagement around the respawning Elder Dragon, but it never came.
Gen.G drove HLE back. Peanut became isolated pathing from mid to jungle, and Gen.G collapsed on HLE to finally definitively put them to bed.
Of course, Viper survived the engagement, but it did not matter as he had to watch his Nexus fall as he was finally killed for the first time in the 58:47 contest.
Game 3: HLE recover to blow Gen.G out of the water
After the marathon that was Game 2, it would have been forgivable if HLE had run out of steam.
The fears of a Gen.G clean sweep grew as Gen.G’s draft featured some of the highest winrate champions at Worlds – Sion, Kaisa, and Bard all featured for Gen.G
That comfortable draft led to an uncomfortable game for the LCK Champions, as HLE made a quick start.
A scuffed Bard ult led to an advantageous team fight after Herald, as HLE took control of the game in which they got first blood, first dragon, and first tower.
An overextension from Canyon cascaded, with HLE decisively winning the Atakhan fight to take another pivotal objective.
The Baron followed. In contrast to Game 2, Gen.G were the ones sleeping on objectives this time as HLE got it essentially for free.
Another dragon followed, as HLE secured a team Ace to blow Gen.G away before Zeka’s Yone ult led to the Nexus.
HLE blew Gen.G away with Viper going 9-0-9 on Sivir in yet another incredible performance, refusing to die yet again.
Game 4: Gen.G too good for HLE
Game 4 started in a cagey fashion, with neither team committing to engagements. The first dragon went the way of Gen.G, with the teams shaping up for a fight, but not throwing a punch.
The first true fight came at the Herald, with Park ‘Ruler’ Jae-hyuk’s Yunara melting through two of HLE’s pieces to take control.
Gen.G quickly grew to a 3k gold lead, going 3-0 in dragons and 4-2 in K/D.
As HLE tried to scale into the match, the first test of the teams’ relative strengths fell at Atakhan, but Gen.G ripped through HLE with ease, going five for one in the fight.
In contrast to Game 2, it felt like the end was close after only 20 minutes.
Chovy tore through HLE on the Baron fight, meaning Gen.G had all meaningful objectives.
The only hope for HLE was to flip the Elder Dragon, but nothing in the previous engagements showed that there was little hope for the LCK 2025 runner-ups.
Gen.G looked for a finish too early. As the Elder Dragon spawned, they were left in a strange position, retreating from HLE’s base and were nearly punished, but managed to stabilise before HLE could leave take advantage.
In the end, Kiin’s K’Sante pushed HLE over for the final time, and Gen.G finished the series with ease in 32 minutes.
Gen.G’s march to a Worlds title seems unstoppable for now, facing either KT Rolster or CFO in the semi-finals.
However, they will be wary of KT after they defeated Gen.G 3-2 in the upper bracket of the LCK 2025 Finals.
For HLE, it is the end of the road for Peanut, but what an ending it was. A classic, amazing series that will go down in history.
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