LCK Power Rankings: Gen.G Takes the Lead, DWG KIA Slips
The state of the LCK (League of Legends Champions Korea) is in turmoil. Compared to the Spring Split, teams are showing significant disparities in their overall strengths. Now, after observing several games, we can confidently adjust the rankings of contenders.
The “Spring Split hangover” is finally over and teams are proving their worth on stage. In light of this, we have made changes to the LCK teams in our power rankings based on their convincing performances.
The Ups and Downs of LCK Power Rankings
Due to the current instability of the league, almost every team in the LCK has shuffled up or down in our power rankings compared to last week. The teams have been playing sloppy League, resulting in some climbing up the ranks while others plummet to the bottom.
Here are the LCK power rankings after three weeks of play in the 2021 Summer Split:
| Rank | Team | Rank change |
| 1) | Gen.G | +1 |
| 2) | DWG KIA | -1 |
| 3) | Nongshim RedForce | +1 |
| 4) | T1 | -1 |
| 5) | Afreeca Freecs | +1 |
| 6) | Liiv Sandbox | +1 |
| 7) | Fredit BRION | +2 |
| 8) | KT Rolster | — |
| 9) | Hanwha Life | -4 |
| 10) | DRX | — |
Let’s Fix the Issues: KT Rolster, Hanwha Life, DRX
Last split, KT Rolster, Hanwha Life Esports, and DRX were playoff contenders. However, these three teams now find themselves at the bottom of the LCK standings after three weeks into the Summer Split.
KT Rolster hasn’t impressed since their week one victory against DWG KIA. Hanwha Life’s performance has taken a nosedive after qualifying for playoffs last split. DRX, on the other hand, hasn’t won a match since March. These teams need to find a remedy quickly if they want to regain their previous standing.
The New Contenders: Afreeca Freecs, Liiv Sandbox, Fredit BRION
In a surprising twist, Fredit BRION is making a strong case for a playoff spot in the LCK Summer Split. Their recent 2-0 week earned them their highest placing in our power rankings. Afreeca Freecs and Liiv Sandbox, as other newcomers to the playoff race, have a chance to rise up in the league due to the unstableness of top teams like Nongshim, T1, and DWG KIA. Afreeca and Sandbox will face each other on July 1.
Steady but Flawed: Nongshim RedForce, T1
Although it may be surprising to see Nongshim ranked highly among the LCK teams, their performances have been relatively more solid compared to other teams. However, even Nongshim is not free from sloppy play, as seen during their 2-0 win against T1 last week. The lengthy head-to-head match between the two teams is the reason for Nongshim’s higher ranking this week.
Changing of the Guard: Gen.G, DWG KIA
After a long reign, DWG KIA is facing a new reality. Gen.G has emerged as the number one team in the LCK, while DWG KIA slips to second place. Gen.G has been a consistent competitor alongside DWG KIA during the Spring Split. Despite DWG KIA’s recent lackluster performance and experimentation with a role-swapped roster, it is too soon to write them off entirely. DWG KIA still has the potential to bounce back, as shown in their close international title run last month.
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LCK, League of Legends, power rankings, Spring Split, Summer Split, teams, contenders, playoff, KT Rolster, Hanwha Life, DRX, Afreeca Freecs, Liiv Sandbox, Fredit BRION, Nongshim RedForce, T1, Gen.G, DWG KIA