LCK announces a major decision! Finals to be held in China, Korean fans erupt, Faker plays a crucial role

Hello to all LPL viewers and League of Legends summoners, this is Tianxia Game Report.

The first stage of the major LOL regions' competitions is progressing intensely. As a stage introduced only last year, its prestige is limited, but since it ties into the new season, it still offers many exciting moments.

Recently, the LCK region revealed a major decision that the LCK Cup finals will be hosted in China.

LCK announces a major decision: finals to be held in China

Yesterday, Korean media FOMOS released new information stating that to strengthen its position as a global premium cultural content provider and expand its international fanbase, the LCK Cup finals will be held in Hong Kong, China, on February 28 and March 1, at the Kai Tak Sports Park.

FOMOS also highlighted that in 2025, the LCK achieved an average minute audience (AMA) of 630,000, with over 60% of viewers coming from overseas. This is the main reason why LCK chose to hold the finals outside its home region for the first time.

Shortly after, ticket prices for the LCK Cup Hong Kong finals were announced, ranging from a minimum of 435 RMB to a maximum of 1506 RMB.

To evaluate these ticket prices, different perspectives must be considered. Compared to Hong Kong's cost of living, the prices are not high, but relative to previous LCK event ticket prices, they are quite expensive since LCK tickets have traditionally been affordable, even for finals.

Following the announcement, the decision sparked considerable controversy within the LCK community. Many LCK viewers and fans expressed strong dissatisfaction, as the finals aim to expand the overseas market but seemingly overlook the feelings of local LCK fans.

Widespread criticism, Korean fans are upset

The reason for the dissatisfaction among LCK fans is straightforward. The most important point is that as Korea’s home region, holding the finals in China means local fans who could attend in person can no longer do so, while Chinese viewers, especially those in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau area, benefit by having closer access to the event.

Korea’s land area is relatively small, roughly the size of a Chinese province. Normally, when the LCK holds finals domestically, fans from different regions can easily travel to watch live. But with the finals in Hong Kong, fans must take flights, which are costly, and combined with higher ticket prices, the overall expense to attend the event has greatly increased.

Another point raised by Korean media is that the announcement timing was rushed, catching many Korean and overseas fans off guard. Overseas fans usually need to plan trips two to three months in advance, but the LCK only announced the Hong Kong finals about a month ahead, disrupting many fans’ plans.

Korean media reported the fans’ dissatisfaction and explained that over the years, LCK teams have suffered serious financial deficits due to revenue structure issues. The implication is that hosting events overseas is an attempt to ease these financial pressures.

Faker is the key figure, directly impacting finals revenue

In my opinion, the simplest explanation is that LCK wants to tap into the Chinese market because its operations have been struggling recently. Despite excellent world championship results and being the undisputed top LOL region, LCK cannot resolve the severe survival crisis faced by its teams, thus resorting to this approach.

Although this causes dissatisfaction among Korean fans, LCK prioritizes profit. The domestic market is too small, and fans’ spending power is weaker compared to the LPL region.

This clearly demonstrates the huge contrast between the two major LOL regions: the more successful region suffers from a small market and financial difficulties, while the less successful region benefits from a large market and maintains a stable revenue base.

Now that the decision is final, the most crucial person is that man—Faker. The LCK Cup finals and qualifying matches will be held in Hong Kong. Faker and T1 must at least reach the finals qualifiers because only Faker’s presence in China can generate enough drawing power. Judging by the current state of the LCK Cup, this outcome is highly likely.