The MOBA League of Legends is played worldwide, but the best server is considered to be in South Korea: Players from all over the world flock to the South Korean server to compete against top players of the LCK like Faker. But Riot Games is putting a stop to this in 2023: They are mercilessly banning players from the server, even South Korean superstars like ‘The Shy.’
Why is the South Korean server considered the best server for LoL?
- The level at which League of Legends is played worldwide is extremely varied. Especially in the USA, players constantly complain that even at high levels, the games in solo queue are too weak because many players make mistakes, leading to a significant disadvantage when playing in North America.
- However, the South Korean LoL server is regarded by many as the best server in the world. Players from the USA, China, or Europe love to log in there, some even move to South Korea specifically to train in a boot camp and improve their skills.
- But now there are troubles in paradise.
Bets on solo queue games are rampant, becoming a problem
This is the problem: In LoL, just like in Valorant, troubles are brewing: People have started placing bets on the outcomes of solo queue games, especially when professional and star players are involved in the match.
This leads to game manipulation and hinders professionals from training properly.
Riot Games has therefore issued a strict new rule: Anyone who does not live in South Korea will be permanently banned from the South Korean server.
Riot kicks out every professional from solo-Q in South Korea who does not live in South Korea
These are the consequences: Riot Games takes this banning wave so seriously that even the South Korean star player Kang ‘TheShy’ Seung-lok has now been banned, a former world champion.
Although TheShy is from South Korea and was born there, he continued his career in the Chinese LPL. Although he was a big name in the South Korean solo queue and grew up in South Korea, he has now been permanently banned from the server, as seen in a live clip where he tries to reconnect to the servers.
Other South Koreans playing in China, like Ruler, are also affected by the ban.
From Riot, it is stated (via twitter):
- Many solo accounts that were lent to foreign professionals would have been reclaimed in 2023.
- Those who come to South Korea specifically for boot camping will be lent an account – but only for the duration of the professional’s stay in Korea.
LoL at a high level can pay off:
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