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LCK 2018 Overview
The 2018 LCK season marked a major transitional period for Korean League of Legends. Once the undisputed global standard, the LCK entered a year of internal restructuring, rising challengers, and shifting power dynamics. While established organizations such as 
KT Rolster and 
Kingzone DragonX captured domestic titles, the season also introduced 
Griffin, a rookie roster whose rapid ascent would shape the league for years to come.
LCK 2018 was the final season before Korea’s international dominance began to wane, making it a historically significant year in both regional and global context.
Season Highlights
- Spring Winner: Kingzone DragonX (3-1 vs
Afreeca Freecs) - Summer Winner: KT Rolster (3-2 vs Griffin)
- Worlds 2018 Seeds: KT Rolster, Afreeca Freecs,
Gen.G
Season Structure
Spring and Summer Splits
- Regular Season: Double round-robin (Bo3). Top 5 teams advanced to playoffs.
- Playoff Format: Sequential King of the Hill bracket. The higher-seeded teams entered at later rounds.
- Series Format: Wildcard round was Bo3; all subsequent playoff series were Best-of-Five (Bo5).
Qualification
- Seed #1: Summer Split Champion (KT Rolster).
- Seed #2: Championship Points Leader (Afreeca Freecs).
- Seed #3: Regional Finals Gauntlet Winner (Gen.G).
Participating Teams
LCK Spring 2018
- Afreeca Freecs
Afreeca Freecs
- TOP
- Kiin
- JNG
- Spirit / Mowgli
- MID
- Kuro
- BOT
- Kramer / Aiming
- SUP
- TusiN
- bbq Olivers
bbq Olivers
- TOP
- Crazy
- JNG
- Trick / Bono
- MID
- Tempt
- BOT
- Ghost
- SUP
- IgNar
- Jin Air Green Wings
Jin Air Green Wings
- TOP
- SoHwan
- JNG
- UmTi
- MID
- Grace / Justice
- BOT
- Teddy
- SUP
- Wraith
- Kingzone DragonX
Kingzone DragonX
- TOP
- Rascal / Khan
- JNG
- Peanut / Cuzz
- MID
- Bdd
- BOT
- PraY
- SUP
- GorillA
- Kongdoo Monster
Kongdoo Monster
- TOP
- Roach
- JNG
- Raise / U Jun
- MID
- Edge
- BOT
- SSol
- SUP
- Secret
- KSV
KSV
- TOP
- CuVee
- JNG
- Ambition / Haru
- MID
- Crown
- BOT
- Ruler
- SUP
- CoreJJ
- KT Rolster
KT Rolster
- TOP
- Smeb
- JNG
- Score / Rush
- MID
- PawN / Ucal
- BOT
- Deft
- SUP
- Mata
- MVP
MVP
- TOP
- ADD
- JNG
- Beyond
- MID
- Ian
- BOT
- MaHa / Pilot
- SUP
- Max
- ROX Tigers
ROX Tigers
- TOP
- Lindarang
- JNG
- Mightybear / SeongHwan
- MID
- Kuzan / Lava
- BOT
- Sangyoon
- SUP
- Key
- SK Telecom T1
SK Telecom T1
- TOP
- Untara / Thal
- JNG
- Blank / Wolf / Blossom
- MID
- Faker
- BOT
- Bang
- SUP
- Wolf / Effort
LCK Summer 2018
- Afreeca Freecs
Afreeca Freecs
- TOP
- Kiin
- JNG
- Spirit / Mowgli
- MID
- Kuro
- BOT
- Aiming / Kramer
- SUP
- TusiN
- bbq Olivers
bbq Olivers
- TOP
- Crazy
- JNG
- Bono / Trick
- MID
- Tempt
- BOT
- Aries / Ghost
- SUP
- IgNar
- Gen.G
Gen.G
- TOP
- CuVee / Mong
- JNG
- Ambition / Haru
- MID
- Fly / Crown
- BOT
- Ruler
- SUP
- CoreJJ
- Griffin
Griffin
- TOP
- Sword
- JNG
- Tarzan
- MID
- Rather / Chovy
- BOT
- Viper
- SUP
- Lehends
- Hanwha Life Esports
Hanwha Life Esports
- TOP
- Lindarang / Brook
- JNG
- SeongHwan / Mightybear
- MID
- Lava / Kuzan
- BOT
- Sangyoon / Clever
- SUP
- Key / Asper
- Jin Air Green Wings
Jin Air Green Wings
- TOP
- SoHwan
- JNG
- UmTi / KaKAO
- MID
- Grace / Justice
- BOT
- Teddy
- SUP
- Nova
- Kingzone DragonX
Kingzone DragonX
- TOP
- Khan / Rascal
- JNG
- Cuzz / Peanut
- MID
- Bdd
- BOT
- PraY
- SUP
- GorillA
- KT Rolster
KT Rolster
- TOP
- Smeb / Kingen
- JNG
- Rush / Score
- MID
- Ucal / PawN
- BOT
- Deft
- SUP
- Mata
- MVP
MVP
- TOP
- ADD / MaHa / Max
- JNG
- Yondu
- MID
- Ian
- BOT
- Pilot / MaHa
- SUP
- Max / Motive
- SK Telecom T1
SK Telecom T1
- TOP
- Thal
- JNG
- Blank / Blossom
- MID
- Faker / Pirean
- BOT
- Bang / Leo
- SUP
- Wolf / Effort
2018 Regional Finals
- Kingzone DragonX
Kingzone DragonX
- TOP
- Khan / Rascal
- JNG
- Peanut / Cuzz
- MID
- Bdd
- BOT
- PraY
- SUP
- GorillA
- Griffin
Griffin
- TOP
- Sword
- JNG
- Tarzan
- MID
- Chovy
- BOT
- Viper
- SUP
- Lehends
- Gen.G
Gen.G
- TOP
- CuVee
- JNG
- Ambition / Haru
- MID
- Fly / Crown
- BOT
- Ruler
- SUP
- CoreJJ
- SK Telecom T1
SK Telecom T1
- TOP
- Untara
- JNG
- Blank
- MID
- Faker
- BOT
- Bang
- SUP
- Effort
LCK 2018 Spring Split
Spring SplitRegular Season Standings
| # | Team | Series | Games | Diff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingzone DragonX | 16 - 2 | 33 - 7 | +26 | Finals Seed |
| 2 | Afreeca Freecs | 13 - 5 | 28 - 15 | +13 | Round 3 Seed |
| 3 | KT Rolster | 13 - 5 | 28 - 15 | +13 | Round 2 Seed |
| 4 |  SK Telecom T1 | 9 - 9 | 22 - 20 | +2 | Round 1 Seed |
| 5 |  KSV eSports | 9 - 9 | 21 - 22 | -1 | Round 1 Seed |
| 6 |  ROX Tigers | 9 - 9 | 21 - 22 | -1 | Missed Playoffs |
| 7 |  Jin Air Green Wings | 7 - 11 | 18 - 25 | -7 | |
| 8 |  Hanwha Life Esports | 6 - 12 | 17 - 28 | -11 | |
| 9 |  MVP | 6 - 12 | 17 - 28 | -11 | |
| 10 |  bbq Olivers | 2 - 16 | 9 - 34 | -25 |
Spring Playoffs (King of the Hill)
KSV SKT T1 KT Rolster SKT T1 Afreeca KT Rolster Kingzone Afreeca Kingzone Wins Spring LCK 2018 Summer Split
Summer SplitRegular Season Standings
| # | Team | Series | Games | Diff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KT Rolster | 13 - 5 | 29 - 14 | +15 | Finals Seed |
| 2 | Griffin | 13 - 5 | 28 - 13 | +15 | Round 3 Seed |
| 3 | Kingzone DragonX | 13 - 5 | 28 - 15 | +13 | Round 2 Seed |
| 4 | Gen.G | 13 - 5 | 28 - 16 | +12 | Round 1 Seed |
| 5 | Afreeca Freecs | 10 - 8 | 26 - 20 | +6 | Round 1 Seed |
| 6 | Hanwha Life Esports | 10 - 8 | 25 - 21 | +4 | |
| 7 | SK Telecom T1 | 8 - 10 | 20 - 24 | -4 | |
| 8 | Jin Air Green Wings | 4 - 14 | 14 - 31 | -17 | |
| 9 | MVP | 4 - 14 | 11 - 30 | -19 | |
| 10 | bbq Olivers | 2 - 16 | 9 - 34 | -25 |
Summer Playoffs (King of the Hill)
Gen.G Afreeca Kingzone Afreeca Griffin Afreeca KT Rolster Griffin KT Rolster Wins Summer Regional Finals (Worlds Qualification)
Gen.G completed a legendary gauntlet run, defeating three top-tier teams in succession to claim the final LCK ticket to the 2018 World Championship.
Gen.G SKT T1 Griffin Gen.G Kingzone Gen.G Gen.G Qualifies for Worlds