Hanwha Life Esports failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the League of Legends World Championship

In the quarterfinals of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship, Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) lost to LCK rival Gen.G 1-3, unfortunately stopping in the quarterfinals, and also marking the end of veteran Peanut's career.

Hanwha Life, the second seed of the LCK, performed exceptionally well in the Swiss Round, securing their place in the knockout stage after a string of consecutive wins. However, they failed to repeat their feat against defending champions Gen.G. In the first game of the series, the two teams were evenly matched early on, but Gen.G took the lead in the Dragon Pit teamfight, securing their first victory with steady play.

The second game lasted nearly an hour, making it the longest game of this tournament so far. Although HLE made many wonderful counterattacks, they were suppressed by Gen.G in key operations and eventually lost with a kill difference of 28 to 22.

Game 3 proved to be HLE's final highlight. Core marksman Viper, playing Sivir, went on to achieve a perfect 9/0/9 performance, leading the team to a 22-6 victory. However, Gen.G quickly adjusted their tempo in game 4, completely controlling the match and closing the game in just 31 minutes, securing a 3-1 victory and advancing to the semifinals.

For Hanwha Life League, this loss was a profound one. It not only ended their World Championship run, but also marked the final chapter in Peanut's career. Since his debut in 2014, Peanut has played for ROX Tigers, T1, and Gen.G, winning multiple LCK and MSI titles and becoming one of the most iconic junglers in LCK history.

In 2024, Peanut joined Hanwha Life Entertainment (HLE) and led them to the LCK Summer Championship. Now, with a quarterfinal appearance, his decade-long esports career has come to a close. Despite failing to reach Worlds, HLE's performance this season remains respectable. With Peanut entering military service, a season of veteran service has also come to an end.