League of Legends is saved.

G2's performance has made League of Legends esports unpredictable.

Prior to the start of First Stand (FST) 2026, discussions about the declining investment in international tournaments garnered significant attention from League of Legends fans. Despite increasing popularity and improved commercial value, investment in the esports scene in many regions is no longer what it once was.

Except for the LCK, especially T1 with Faker and their rich identity, which truly profited from the game, the rest witnessed a decline. The LPL continuously had teams withdrawing from the league, along with match-fixing scandals that eroded trust. North America and Europe lacked significant international achievements, and Riot Games gradually scaled back its operations. Brazil and Vietnam, despite having large and passionate followings, lacked notable achievements or outstanding players.

Negative publicity and the dominance of Korean teams in consecutive international tournaments led to much criticism of FST. Before the tournament, it was considered the most boring international event in years due to the absence of T1 and a lack of entertainment and surprises.

The LPL has won its first international tournament since 2023.

However, as the tournament progressed, the level of interest increased dramatically. Europe's G2 caused a major upset by eliminating both Gen.G and BNF from the LCK, pushing South Korea out of the championship. Despite losing in the finals to BLG, this was still a significant achievement. After FST, fans will focus their attention on the LEC.

Similarly, the LPL took almost three years to win another international event. Their last achievement was at MSI 2023 with JDG's all-star lineup. Since then, South Korea has alternated lifting the trophy, with T1 winning three World Championships, Gen.G winning two MSI titles, and HLE finishing first at FST 2025.

Bin and his teammates' victory is a much-needed boost for a lackluster LPL. The league has been lacking young players and has consistently disappointed by losing to South Korea. After FST 2026, investment in domestic events may increase as fans return. The remaining LPL teams are also relatively evenly matched, including AL, Weibo, and Top Esports.

With over 15 years of existence, League of Legends has built an esports scene that is heavily focused on entertainment, gradually separating itself from the game itself. However, its aging nature and multi-tiered tournament system make it difficult for the publisher to achieve balance.

They constantly search for future talents, but the audience's interest in Faker and T1 always outweighs theirs. Notably, the red team's consistent championship wins have discouraged other investors, as their massive investments haven't yielded positive results. The exciting developments at FST, a tournament where T1 was absent, are a positive sign for the game.