Introduction: The S16 season matches have officially started, and the vast majority of players have been paying attention to the recent battles. The competition in the LCK region is extremely fierce. From the overall matchups so far, Gen remains fully dominant, with no team able to withstand their pressure. Their clash against BFX was quite effortless, finishing 3-1 and securing the first spot in the global Vanguard tournament. In post-match interviews, both Gen and BFX players believed this team would reach the final losers' bracket, completely overlooking DK. Meanwhile, some fans noticed a new LCK tactic recently — gaining an early lead with three urgent moves and frequent restroom pauses.

LOL's first team worldwide to qualify for the Vanguard tournament

Most players still pay close attention to the LCK region. As one of the world's top leagues, LCK has maintained consistently strong overall results in recent years, winning the World Championship multiple times. No team has been able to withstand their pressure. With the playoffs underway, Gen has become the center of attention for players worldwide. Unsurprisingly, they comfortably crushed BFX 3-1, becoming the first team globally to secure a spot in the Vanguard tournament. Judging by their current form, every player is performing steadily, aiming for the ultimate championship.

The first game showcased classic LCK-style macro play. Early on, both sides were evenly matched, focusing on precise laning. At 17 minutes, after BFX’s AD carry BigPoro was caught out, the momentum shifted in Gen’s favor. Although BFX won some team fights, they couldn’t withstand Gen’s flawless coordination, ending the game at just 31 minutes. The second game was similar, relying again on Gen’s perfect teamfight synergy. Despite losing some dragons early, it was insignificant. Another decisive team fight in the 30+ minute mark sealed the game for Gen.

In the third game, BFX regained some momentum. Vical’s Twisted Fate showed top-tier play with a triple kill, leading BFX to a 2-for-5 team wipe. After that, BFX controlled the pace completely, winning the game in a single push at 28 minutes. The fourth game saw Gen explode early, leading by 8000 gold at just 13 minutes with a 7-0 kill score, leaving BFX no chance. The match ended in 23 minutes, with Duro’s Titan dominating the stage, Canyon’s Nidalee posting perfect stats, and Ruler going godlike.

Recently, LCK has called an unusually high number of pauses. Many times, players request a timeout to use the restroom right after the game starts, sparking much online teasing. Could this be a new LCK tactic? Do they discuss strategies during these breaks? Some fans joked about "going out with a triple urgent pause"—how does that even work? In the LPL, such frequent pauses would lead to heavy fines, but it seems in LCK, players are pausing for restrooms without penalty. The upcoming match between DK and T1 is about to start, while both Gen and BFX teams seem to be ignoring it, believing DK will face T1 in the final losers' bracket.

Farewell thoughts

Thinking about Gen’s current form, it’s even more impressive than expected. In 2026, they remain undefeated. Their sole goal is winning the World Championship. However, during interviews, Chovy appeared somewhat reluctant about Faker, suggesting BFX might defeat T1 and face them again in the finals. Indeed, any normal player would prefer not to meet Faker in the final, as his composure under pressure is unmatched.

What do you all think about this situation?