Look Sports Media – Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) have punched their ticket to the League of Legends Worlds 2025 playoffs, decisively defeating CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO) with a 2-0 victory in their crucial 2-1 Swiss stage matchup. The series showcased HLE’s strategic prowess and ability to adapt, ultimately dismantling CFO’s aggressive playstyle.
CFO, after a promising 2-0 start, now find themselves on the brink at 2-2 in the Swiss Stage, clinging to a single remaining chance to advance to the Worlds playoffs. Their performance at Worlds 2025 has been a revelation, marking a significant improvement throughout the year, turning heads at both MSI and Worlds.
The LCP champions, known for their victories against Fnatic and T1 in Bo1 matches, faced a formidable challenge against Anyone’s Legend and ultimately HLE in the Bo3. CFO’s hallmark relentless aggression, a defining characteristic of their Worlds run, proved insufficient against HLE’s calculated counter-picks and superior teamfighting.
Related Post
A key element in CFO’s success had been their comfort pick, Sion. CFO’s victories have been intrinsically linked to the presence of Sion in their draft. Despite Sion boasting a high win rate in Week 1, many teams hesitated to ban it, prioritizing bans on champions like Azir, Orianna, and Yunara. HLE, however, broke the mold, refusing to let Sion through the draft phase. This strategic decision paid dividends, as CFO opted not to play the available Azir, allowing HLE to seize it for themselves.
Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo showcased his mastery of Azir, finishing with an impressive 9/2/8 scoreline. He led HLE in weathering CFO’s ganks and dives, ultimately securing control of the series. Han "Peanut" Wang-ho also delivered a standout performance on Jarvan IV, breaking the champion’s 0-9 losing streak at Worlds. Peanut finished Game 1 with a 3/4/14 score.
While CFO maintained their relentless pressure, HLE’s superior macro play gradually outscaled them. CFO’s teamfights became increasingly desperate and disadvantaged, with those fights being the only thing keeping CFO in the contest, before HLE aced CFO when contesting the Baron to secure the game definitively.
In Game 2, CFO maintained their aggressive approach, but HLE appeared more prepared to counter their strategies. While CFO held a slight early-game advantage, their objective play faltered, leading to messy engagements that HLE ruthlessly punished.
Zeka’s Taliyah performance was a masterclass in crowd control, isolating Chiu "Doggo" Tzu-Chuan, CFO’s primary carry, in the decisive fight. Park "Viper" Do-hyeon dominated on Caitlyn, finishing with a 9/1/1 score and crushing CFO’s hopes.
HLE now joins KT Rolster and Anyone’s Legend in the playoffs. CFO faces a do-or-die situation in their final 2-2 match. While they may need to adapt their strategies when Sion is unavailable, one thing remains certain: CFO will continue to play with their signature explosive, unconventional, and entertaining style.
Leave a Comment