Gen.G parts ways with Lakia after 3 years

Gen.G Esports have officially announced the end of their contract with in-game leader and Masters champion Kim "Lakia" Jong-min. The organization shared the news on X, thanking him for "his unwavering dedication and for all the time he has spent with us over his journey with the team."

From Fresh Signing to Championship Core

Lakia joined Gen.G in October 2023, brought in as part of a roster overhaul heading into the 2024 season. Coaches Kim "HSK" Hae-seong and Kang "solo" Keun-chul's strategy at the time centered on finding "players who are hungry," and Lakia became a key piece of that vision alongside teammates Kim "t3xture" Na-ra and Kim "Karon" Won-tae.

That gamble paid off spectacularly. The 2024 Gen.G roster delivered one of the most dominant runs in VALORANT history, opening the year with a VCT 2024 - Pacific Kickoff title before finishing runner-up to Sentinels at VCT 2024 - Masters Madrid. The peak came at VCT 2024 - Masters Shanghai, where Gen.G went undefeated to become the first-ever Pacific team to win an international VALORANT event, a breakthrough that kickstarted a four-tournament streak of Pacific dominance across Bangkok, Toronto, and Santiago. The Golden Tigers capped off the year with a VCT 2024 - Pacific Stage 2 title as well.

A Rocky 2025 and Uncertain 2026

Following Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom's departure to T1 in 2025, Lakia's contract with Gen.G ended for the first time, and the player spent the season on the sideline. Gen.G renewed his contract for 2026, handing him the IGL role, but results didn't follow. The team posted a career-low 9th-10th finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Kickoff, then dropped further to 11th-12th in VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Stage 1.

Gen.G haven't confirmed whether they'll re-sign Lakia for the rest of 2026. The organization has done something similar in the past, leaving room for a potential return. Meanwhile, rumors suggest T1 could be exploring interest in the former Masters winner. For now, where the veteran lands next remains an open question.

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Featured Image Source: David Lee/Riot Games