League of Legends coach Wong “Tabe” Pak Kan has pulled back the curtain on the intense practice regimens that separate top Chinese and Korean teams from their Western counterparts. During a revealing interview with European analyst Marc “Caedrel,” Lamont, the current Anyone’s Legend coach, detailed the exhausting daily routine that has helped Eastern teams dominate the international competition for nearly a decade.
According to Tabe, AL teams typically run three scrim blocks daily, with each block consisting of roughly five games. This adds up to around 15 practice games per day before players even touch solo queue. The schedule is brutal: players wake up around noon, skip breakfast, and immediately begin their first scrim block after lunch.
“Teams may play 15 scrim games a day, in addition to solo queue grinding late into the night,” Tabe explained. “The schedule extends into late night and early morning hours, with second and third meals taken at 6 PM and midnight.”
This grind-heavy approach is a sharp contrast to what most Western teams put themselves through, with fewer scrims, and a bigger focus on work-life balance. Tabe didn’t hold back when asked what European teams need to fix, saying they were missing the mark on basics like communication, laning, map awareness, vision control, and decision-making.
The gap between regions isn’t just about putting in more hours, though. Tabe pointed out that his style is all about building connections with players, having real talks, and making sure conflicts are sorted out the right way. He thinks reviewing scrims and learning from them matters just as much as the grind itself.
“What stood out was how much effort Tabe puts into bonding with his players and having real conversations,” Caedrel said during the interview. “The way he builds trust and opens up discussions on every part of the game really matters.”
Eastern dominance in League of Legends is nothing new. Since 2013, China and Korea have won every World Championship, with Western teams sometimes making a decent run but never quite getting over the finish line. This year’s MSI saw T1 from Korea grab the trophy, while Western teams just couldn’t keep up.
Western teams have tried copying the Eastern grind, but it mostly hasn’t worked out. Tabe said that’s because players never really bought in, and coaching connections just weren’t as strong—not because they practiced less.
No days off no problems
The “fearless draft” system used in major leagues demands even larger champion pools from players, which means even more practice on top. Tabe said this system just makes the gap even bigger between the regions grinding all day and those who aren’t.
Even though there are always worries about burnout among fans and analysts, the Eastern way keeps getting results. As Western teams get ready for Worlds 2023, Tabe’s thoughts are a pretty clear wake-up call for how much commitment it takes to really measure up on the world stage.
