Ruler

For Ruler, 2025 was a grand "return of the king." After a two-year absence, he officially announced his return to the starting point of his professional career—GEN—at the end of 2024. For him, this was far more than a simple transfer; it was a prodigal son returning home. As he himself said, "GEN was, and always will be, home." This return was a serendipitous mutual journey. GEN's management had been eagerly anticipating his return and hoped he would finish his professional career with GEN, while Ruler himself returned to this familiar stage with a desire to prove himself and the same excitement he felt during his debut in 2016. Upon his return, he signed a three-year long-term contract with GEN, demonstrating their shared unwavering confidence in the future. Back in the LCK, Ruler quickly became the most consistent offensive weapon for GEN's super team. He and his teammates dominated the league, and in the 2025 LCK Summer Split Finals, he won the Finals MVP award for his outstanding performance throughout the series, especially his crucial Baron steal with Xayah. This honor is of extraordinary significance, making him the first player in League of Legends history to win the Finals MVP award in both the LCK and LPL, two top-tier regions, providing the most hardcore proof of his individual skill and legendary career. His journey didn't end in Korea; on the international stage, he helped his team win the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the Esports World Cup (EWC) League of Legends championships, adding another major trophy to his trophy cabinet. Particularly noteworthy is that during the MSI finals victory against T1, he repeatedly displayed the logo of his former team, JDG, as a tribute and expression of gratitude for his time in the LPL, frankly stating that that experience taught him a lot and helped him win the championship again, showcasing the delicate sentiments and high emotional intelligence of a world-class player. In 2025, Ruler demonstrated extreme versatility and consistency in his skills. He could establish an advantage in the laning phase with champions like Lucian and Corki, and also deliver decisive blows in team fights with carry champions like Kai'Sa and Xayah. Compared to his earlier years, he now places greater emphasis on match statistics and details. This is perhaps another layer of refinement gained from his two years in the LPL, allowing him to continuously validate his top-tier performance through quantifiable results. In short, 2025 was a fulfilling and successful year for Ruler. He not only rediscovered his professional roots with "home" at its core, but also declared to the world, through a series of championships and milestone individual honors, that this veteran still stands at the pinnacle of the ADC position. His story is a magnificent chapter about return, proof, and an immortal competitive spirit.