First Western Win Against LPL/LCK in Six Years.. Will KC advance?

Karmine Corp (KC) has made history by securing the first Western victory over an LCK/LPL team in six years—excluding G2 Esports. Their 2-0 triumph over Top Esports (TES) at First Stand 2025 has ignited hopes across Europe. But is this just a one-time win, or does it signal a real shift in international League of Legends?

A Long Time Coming: Europe’s International Struggles

Since Team Liquid’s historic 3-1 win against Invictus Gaming at MSI 2019, Western teams—aside from G2—have struggled to compete against Korea and China in best-of-series. The international stage has been dominated by Eastern powerhouses, making KC’s win all the more significant.

For years, G2 was Europe’s only real hope. While other LEC teams showed flashes of potential, they often fell short in crucial moments. But with KC’s victory, a new contender has emerged.

Breaking Down the TES vs. KC Matchup

KC’s drafts and execution in this series were on point. According to analyst IWillDominate, the pivotal moment came in draft phase:

"They banned Viktor over Taliyah. I feel like Vladi should be thrilled to play Taliyah in this game. It’s a winnable game for KC."

Vladi, one of KC’s promising rookies, capitalized on this mistake. His Taliyah pick provided immense control, shutting down TES’s aggressive playstyle. Meanwhile, Caliste’s Ezreal dominated the bot lane, punishing TES’s over-aggression.

Despite some shaky moments, KC maintained their composure and punished TES’s mistakes. Kanavi’s poor decision-making further helped KC’s cause, with IWillDominate noting:

"Kanavi is actually inting so hard this game. His score looks fine, but he’s running it down."

In the final moments, Vladi’s clutch Taliyah plays secured KC’s victory, proving that this young roster has the potential to compete at the highest level.

Community Reactions: EU Fans Celebrate, But Skepticism Remains

The League of Legends community exploded following KC’s win, with many fans taking to Reddit to express excitement and disbelief:

• "That is an insane stat. It’s been six years since a Western team other than G2 beat LCK/LPL."

• "Caps has been carrying EU for years. It’s good to see new talent step up."

• "KC showed up big against TES, but if they don’t qualify, it’ll be a tragedy."

However, some remain cautious, pointing out that TES underperformed and that KC’s tournament start was rocky.

The Road Ahead: Can KC Pull Off a Miracle Run?

Despite the massive win against TES, KC’s path to advancement remains difficult. After an early loss to TL and a crushing 0-2 defeat to CFO, their chances of advancing are now 100% dependent on scores of their opponents. Only one team is excluded from the bracket phase of the tournament and the tie breakers are resolved based on:

1. Head to Head Match Record (across all tied teams)

2. Total Game Win/Loss Percentage (within the matches involving tied teams)

3. Total Game Win/Loss Percentage (full event)

4. Average Game Victory time (within the matches involving tied teams)

5. Average Game Victory time (full event)

6. Coin flip

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Individual Performances: Kaliste & Vladi Step Up

KC’s win was driven by their two young rookies, Kaliste and Vladi, who played a crucial role in the team’s victory.

• Vladi’s Taliyah: Controlled fights and punished TES’s poor positioning.

• Kaliste’s Ezreal: A massive presence in skirmishes, capitalizing on TES’s mistakes.

These two are proving they belong on the international stage, and their continued growth could be key to KC’s success.

The Bigger Picture: Is the Gap Closing?

Western teams have long struggled against Eastern dominance. KC’s win, while historic, is just one step. To truly close the gap, LEC and LCS teams must consistently challenge and beat LCK/LPL squads across multiple tournaments.

KC has shown that G2 isn’t the only EU team capable of beating elite competition. Whether this is a turning point or just a single bright moment remains to be seen.

For now, though, KC has given European fans something they haven’t had in years—hope.

Want to watch game’s analysis? Check IWillDominate’s co-stream: