TL;DR
- KT Rolster secured their first LCK title after an intense five-game series against rookie team Griffin
- Veteran leadership and strategic adaptation proved decisive in the championship decider
- Key turning points included baron steals, elder drake control, and mid-game teamfighting
- The victory earned KT Korea’s first seed at the World Championship
- Griffin now faces the regional qualifier to keep their Worlds dream alive

KT Rolster achieved a monumental milestone by capturing their inaugural LCK championship, overcoming the formidable rookie organization Griffin in a spectacular grand final showdown at Incheon’s Samsam Gymnasium.
The summer split concluded with these two elite squads clashing in what many considered the most eagerly awaited finals matchup in LCK annals.
Game 1: Griffin’s Meta Innovation – The opening match featured unexpected champion selections from KT Rolster, with mid laner Son “Ucal” Woo-hyeon opting for Viktor and marksman Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu choosing Jinx. Griffin’s Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon countered by pioneering Urgot in the Korean competitive landscape.
Early game action remained balanced between the teams, though mid lane champion choices ultimately determined the outcome. Despite jungler Go “Score” Dong-bin’s valiant efforts, Griffin consistently secured neutral objectives and accumulated eliminations across Summoner’s Rift.
Mid-game struggles plagued KT as Viktor proved ineffective and Jinx lacked sufficient damage output to counter the opposition. Griffin scaled more efficiently and powerfully. KT maintained defensive stability initially, but a baron attempt at 38 minutes resulted in their elimination, allowing Griffin to claim the initial victory.
Game 2: Score’s Redemption – KT’s jungler initiated stronger early game presence, enabling his teammates to adopt more assertive tactics. Objective control favored KT, with heightened aggression yielding superior map dominance.
Score emerged as the match’s standout performer through decisive map rotations. At the 30-minute mark, KT secured baron while Deft earned a crucial triple kill. The resulting empowered minions facilitated KT’s team wipe against Griffin, leveling the series.
Game 3: Griffin’s Split Push Dominance – Griffin commenced with first blood in bottom lane. KT rapidly responded with a top lane double elimination, but thereafter the contest became decidedly one-sided in Griffin’s favor.
Griffin’s split pushing approach generated substantial advantages while KT stretched their defenses thin attempting containment. Griffin breached KT’s base defenses within 25 minutes, securing their second victory.
Game 4: The Elder Drake Turning Point – At championship point, Griffin appeared destined for the title. They controlled games four’s early and middle phases until KT’s critical elder drake steal reversed momentum. The buff empowered KT Rolster to intensify aggression, with Smeb anchoring the frontline while contributing significant team damage. Griffin’s repeated split push attempts proved insufficient to halt KT’s offensive breakthrough, forcing a decisive fifth match.
Game 5: Veteran Experience Prevails – The final confrontation began evenly matched. By 12 minutes, KT initiated coordinated map movements and eliminations that converted into neutral objective control and territorial advantage.
KT penetrated Griffin’s base at 35 minutes. Though Griffin mounted tenacious defense, Deft’s exceptional plays sustained KT Rolster’s offensive momentum.
The championship victory demonstrated KT Rolster’s strategic adaptability and veteran composure under pressure. Their ability to adjust draft strategies between games and capitalize on critical neutral objective opportunities proved decisive. Understanding when to team composition strengths and counter-strategies became the series’ defining elements.
Draft Phase Decisions: KT’s willingness to experiment with unconventional picks like Viktor and Jinx, while risky, showcased their strategic depth. Griffin’s Urgot innovation highlighted the evolving Korean meta and the importance of champion diversity in high-stakes matches.
Neutral Objective Control: The series highlighted how baron and elder drake buffs can completely shift game momentum, turning apparent defeats into victories.
Common Strategic Mistakes to Avoid: Overcommitting to split push without proper vision, misjudging neutral objective timing, and failing to adapt champion bans between games.
Key Individual Contributions: Score’s jungle leadership and mid-game decision-making provided KT’s foundation for success. His assertive rotations in game two and consistent objective control throughout the series demonstrated why veteran presence matters in championship scenarios.
Deft’s clutch performances, particularly his game-winning triple kill and base penetration outplays, showcased world-class marksman mechanics under pressure.
Smeb’s frontline dominance in critical moments, especially during the elder drake empowered phases, proved instrumental in containing Griffin’s aggression.
Advanced Optimization Tips: For players looking to improve their own gameplay, studying Score’s pathing efficiency and Deft’s teamfight positioning provides valuable insights into high-level League of Legends execution. These principles translate well to understanding strategic game fundamentals across different competitive titles.
The seasoned squad reaffirmed their status among LCK’s elite organizations by eliminating Griffin before destroying the enemy nexus, securing Korea’s primary seed for the World Championship tournament.
Griffin now advances to the regional qualification tournament where they’ll contend to maintain their World Championship aspirations.
World Championship Preparation: As Korea’s first seed, KT Rolster enters Worlds with momentum and proven championship mettle. Their ability to adapt mid-series and execute under extreme pressure bodes well for international competition. Teams preparing for similar high-stakes matches should study competitive preparation methodologies to optimize performance.
Regional Qualifier Outlook: Griffin’s performance, while falling short of the championship, demonstrated they belong among Korea’s top contenders.
Action Checklist
- Analyze draft phase decisions and champion priority selections
- Study neutral objective timing and control strategies
- Review key teamfight engagements and positioning
- Compare veteran vs rookie decision-making under pressure
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