en
Chovy Reaches First Worlds Final in Eighth Consecutive Appearance
Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon has finally reached a Worlds final. The Gen.G mid laner secured his place on Saturday, November 7, after a 3-0 victory over Invictus Gaming in the League of Legends World Championship semifinals in Allen, Texas. The breakthrough came in his eighth consecutive Worlds appearance, a streak dating back to 2019.
Despite winning multiple LCK and international titles throughout his career, Chovy had never made it to a Worlds Grand Final. His previous seven runs all ended in either the quarterfinals or semifinals, across four different organizations.
Chovy's Eight Worlds Appearances
Chovy made his Worlds debut with Griffin in 2019. He later played for DRX and Hanwha Life Esports before joining Gen.G, whom he has represented since 2022. Here is how far he progressed at each World Championship:
- 2019 (Griffin): Quarterfinals, lost 3-1 to Invictus Gaming.
- 2020 (DRX): Quarterfinals, lost 3-0 to DAMWON Gaming.
- 2021 (Hanwha Life Esports): Quarterfinals, lost 3-0 to T1.
- 2022 (Gen.G): Semifinals, lost 3-1 to DRX.
- 2023 (Gen.G): Quarterfinals, lost 3-2 to Bilibili Gaming.
- 2024 (Gen.G): Semifinals, lost 3-1 to T1.
- 2025 (Gen.G): Semifinals, lost 3-1 to KT Rolster.
- 2026 (Gen.G): Qualified for his first Grand Final.
In three of the four editions leading up to 2026, Chovy finished just one series away from the final. This time, he has finally made it past that hurdle.
Chovy Explains His Change in Mindset at Worlds 2026
Chovy has also spoken about approaching the World Championship differently this year. In a post-match interview after Gen.G's quarterfinal victory over LYON, he was asked what had changed about his mindset compared with previous Worlds appearances.
He acknowledged that handling the pressure of expectations had been one of his biggest challenges in past tournaments. This year, however, he wanted to focus on enjoying the experience.
"In the past Worlds, the idea of having to meet the expectations and overcoming the pressure, I think, was the biggest hurdle for me. But this year around, I really wanted to just enjoy every single moment, every game that I get to play. And I was having such a great time, you know."
"Ever since I get to walk out and have the fans cheer for me, listening to that, I was just really blessed and happy. And I think that was the biggest difference. I'm really, really happy."
Chovy Gets His Revenge on IG Seven Years Later
The 2026 semifinal also offered a measure of revenge. At Worlds 2019, Chovy's Griffin lost 3-1 to Invictus Gaming in the quarterfinals. That IG roster featured Song "Rookie" Eui-jin and Kang "TheShy" Seung-lok, both of whom faced Chovy again seven years later.
This time, Chovy came out on top. In Gen.G's 3-0 win, he played Cassiopeia (4/2/12), Ahri (6/1/10), and Taliyah (3/3/11). The victory over IG that sent Gen.G to the final also ended the 2018 world champions' tournament run.
The series brought another milestone: Chovy played his 100th Worlds game in Game 3 against IG. He had appeared in 89 games across the 2019 to 2025 tournaments, reaching the century mark in his 11th game at Worlds 2026.
Two MSI Titles and Six LCK Championships Before His First Worlds Final
Chovy's long wait for a Worlds final stands in contrast to his success elsewhere. With Gen.G, he won the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) in 2024 and 2025 and has claimed six LCK titles since 2022. He also won the 2025 Esports World Cup.
In 2026, Gen.G won both the LCK Cup and the main LCK season title. Chovy was also named the regular-season MVP, adding another individual honor to his resume ahead of Worlds.
Two of his current teammates already know what it takes to win the World Championship. Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu won Worlds 2020 with DAMWON Gaming, while Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk lifted the trophy with Samsung Galaxy in 2017. Chovy now has his first chance to win a Worlds title of his own.
Chovy Awaits T1 or BLG in the Worlds 2026 Final
Gen.G will learn who they will face on Sunday, November 8, when T1 face Bilibili Gaming in the second semifinal. The match begins at 2 PM PST / 4 PM CST (Texas) / 5 PM EST / 10 PM GMT / 11 PM CET, with the winner securing the remaining spot in the final.
The Worlds 2026 Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, at 11 AM PST / 1 PM CST / 2 PM EST / 7 PM GMT / 8 PM CET. The best-of-five series will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and determine the 2026 world champions.
Follow Strafe's full Worlds 2026 coverage for the match schedule, results, participating teams, and more from the League of Legends World Championship.
Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news, and check out our X account for more updates and coverage. You can also visit the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.
Featured image credit: Riot Games
Read more:
Faker Warns BLG Ahead of Worlds 2026 Semifinal: 'It's Unfortunate They Have to Face T1'
T1 Have Reached the Top 4 in All 11 Worlds Appearances
Worlds 2026 Playoffs: Bracket, Schedule, Start Times and Format
