Korean powerhouse Gen.G is facing one of the most punishing schedule crunches in professional League of Legends as they prepare to compete against Hanwha Life Esports in LCK Round 3 just 66 hours after their Esports World Cup finals appearance in Saudi Arabia.
The team’s grueling calendar began with their participation in the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), where they represented the LCK on the international stage. Without substantial rest, they then traveled to Riyadh for the Esports World Cup, a non-Riot event offering massive prize pools that has quickly become a can’t-miss tournament for top organizations.
After competing through the EWC bracket to reach the finals and winnning, Gen.G now faces the daunting task of traveling approximately 4,500 miles from Saudi Arabia back to Seoul, adjusting to a seven-hour time difference, and preparing for a high-stakes domestic match against one of Korea’s strongest teams.
The compressed timeline leaves virtually no room for adequate rest, strategic preparation, or adaptation to any recent game patches. Professional players typically require several days to recover from international travel alone, with jetlag often affecting performance and focus for up to a week.
“This is the reality of being at the top,” explained one industry insider. “The esports calendar has become increasingly crowded, with regional leagues, international Riot events, and third-party tournaments all vying for the participation of premier teams.”
The LCK Summer Split schedule was seemingly finalized with little consideration for teams participating in the Saudi-backed EWC, creating this logistical nightmare. While Riot Games controls the official League of Legends competitive calendar, the financial incentives offered by events like the EWC make them difficult for organizations to decline.
Physical demands on esports athletes have intensified as the industry has grown. While not traditionally viewed as physically taxing in the same way as conventional sports, the combination of travel stress, disrupted sleep patterns, and mental fatigue can significantly impact competitive performance.
Gen.G’s players will have barely unpacked their bags before having to face Hanwha Life Esports, a team that will have had the luxury of proper preparation time and no recent international travel strain. This gap really puts the fairness of the matchup in the spotlight, though no one has suggested altering the schedule at this late stage.
