LGD Gaming

Foundations and Scope

Established in 2009, LGD Gaming operates from Hangzhou and is recognized as one of China's most enduring esports organizations. It fields professional teams across a range of major titles, maintaining a significant presence in Dota 2, League of Legends, Honor of Kings, Overwatch, and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. This multi-title approach has allowed the organization to build a substantial following and remain a constant figure in professional gaming.

The organization is also part of the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program. This initiative is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and provides monetary rewards to member teams. The rewards are for promoting the Esports World Cup series and increasing engagement with the tournament. This affiliation has been noted by commentators who associate it with broader efforts by Saudi Arabia to improve its international image.

The Dota 2 Division's Partnership Era

LGD's Dota 2 team was founded concurrently with the organization in 2009. Its modern identity was shaped in April 2018 by a partnership with the French football club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. This sponsorship led to the team being rebranded as PSG.LGD. Entering this partnership on a high note, the team had already won two Dota Pro Circuit majors in 2017 and 2018, securing a direct invite to The International 2018.

At that tournament, PSG.LGD advanced to the grand finals, engaging in a close series against OG. The match went to a full five games, with PSG.LGD ultimately losing 2-3. The team chose to keep its roster intact for the following competitive season. Their consistent performance earned them another direct invite to The International 2019 based on a top-twelve finish in that year's Dota Pro Circuit rankings.

During the 2019 group stage, the team posted a strong 13-3 record, securing an upper bracket berth. They defeated Virtus.pro and Vici Gaming in the upper bracket but were once again stopped by OG, this time in the upper bracket final. Dropping to the lower bracket final, PSG.LGD lost a 2-1 series to Team Liquid, finishing in third place and earning $3,089,706 in prize money.

Peak Performance and Near Misses

The team's most dominant tournament run came at The International 2021. PSG.LGD recorded a 15-1 score in the group stage, moving directly to the upper bracket of the main event. There, they won every series, defeating T1, Virtus.pro, and Team Secret to advance to the grand finals without a loss.

In the finals, they faced Team Spirit. After falling behind 0-2 in the best-of-five series, PSG.LGD won the next two games, nearly completing a reverse sweep. The final game decided the championship, with Team Spirit winning 3-2, leaving PSG.LGD as the runners-up for the second time in four years.

Opting against roster changes, the team carried its strong form into 2022. This season featured several high-profile rematches against Team Spirit. The first was at the PGL Arlington Major, where PSG.LGD finished second after a 3-1 loss in the final. They later claimed victory over Team Spirit at the inaugural Riyadh Masters, winning the tournament with a 2-0 score in the final.

Return to LGD and a Streak Ends

The partnership with PSG Esports concluded in September 2023, prior to The International 2023. With the expiration of the deal, the Dota 2 roster reverted to playing under the original LGD Gaming name. The team entered The International 2022 as one of the favorites but their journey ended with a 5th-6th place finish after a loss to Team Aster.

A more significant milestone occurred in 2024. LGD Gaming failed to qualify for The International 2024, which ended an 11-year streak of appearances that began with their debut at the event in 2012. Their path ended in the China Qualifier, where they were defeated first by Azure Ray and then by Team Turtle. This absence marks a new phase for the historically consistent organization.

League of Legends Team History

LGD Gaming created its League of Legends division on 20 February 2012. The initial team was led by player Zhou Qilin, known as Bug. They qualified for the Season 2 China Regional Finals after the TGA Grand Prix but lost to Invictus Gaming. When the League of Legends Pro League was formed in 2013, LGD failed to qualify in both the Spring and Summer seasons that year.

The team successfully qualified for the LPL in 2014, entering the Spring Split. They placed fifth in the regular season and did not reach the playoffs. Their performance improved in the 2014 Summer Split, where a fourth-place regular season finish secured a playoff spot. In the playoffs, they lost 0-3 to EDward Gaming in the first round and 1-3 to Star Horn Royal Club in the loser's bracket, finishing fourth overall. A loss to OMG in the final qualifying round of the 2014 China Regional Finals prevented them from reaching the World Championship that year.

Seeking to improve, LGD made major signings ahead of the 2015 season. They acquired Korean bot laner Gu Seung-bin (imp) from Samsung White, and top laners Choi Cheon-ju (Acorn) from Samsung Blue and Lee Ho-jong (Flame) from CJ Entus Blaze. In the 2015 LPL Spring Split regular season, LGD placed sixth with a record of 7 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses.

Their playoff run defied expectations. They defeated third-seeded OMG and second-seeded Snake Esports, both by 3-0 scores, to advance to the finals. In the championship series, LGD pushed EDward Gaming to a decisive fifth game before losing 2-3, securing a second-place finish for the split.

Organization Presence and Activities

Beyond its flagship teams, LGD Gaming maintains active rosters in several other competitive titles. According to its official communications, these include Honor of Kings, VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, Delta Force, Street Fighter 6, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and The King of Fighters. This broad involvement across different genres demonstrates the organization's scale and its commitment to maintaining a wide competitive footprint.

The organization engages with fans through multiple official social media accounts, including on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Its public messaging emphasizes its long history as one of China's longest-standing esports organizations and the continuing legacy of its teams.