Samsung Galaxy

Origins and StarCraft Legacy

The organization's roots trace back to its StarCraft division, founded in 2005 and known as Samsung KHAN. The team competed in the professional StarCraft and StarCraft II leagues in South Korea, operating under the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA). In 2008, Samsung KHAN achieved a major victory by winning the Shinhan Bank StarCraft Pro League, establishing itself as a top contender. The StarCraft II division continued to compete in the Proleague until 2016, when it was disbanded following the league's discontinuation. This marked the end of Samsung's direct involvement in professional StarCraft competition.

Entry into League of Legends

Samsung formally entered the League of Legends scene in September 2013, renaming the overall organization Samsung Galaxy after the smartphone series. The move was facilitated by the acquisition of two existing pro teams, MVP Blue and MVP Ozone. These teams were rebranded as Samsung Blue and Samsung Ozone, with the latter later becoming Samsung White. This gave Samsung two leading squads competing simultaneously in the top Korean league, the LCK. The acquisition made Samsung a dominant force in the region.

The Twin Titans of 2014

2014 marked the top of Samsung's two-team era. Samsung White dominated the season, winning the Ongamenet League of Legends Champions Spring 2014 tournament. The team's crowning achievement came at the 2014 League of Legends World Championship, where Samsung White won the title. Their sister team, Samsung Blue, also performed well, finishing in third place at the same world finals after reaching the semifinals. This demonstrated the organization's depth and talent, having two of the world's top three teams under one banner.

Merger and Continued Success

New rules from Riot Games mandated that a single organization could only field one team in the top leagues. As a result, Samsung Blue and Samsung White were merged into a single squad competing under the Samsung Galaxy banner. This consolidated team remained a global contender. In 2016, Samsung Galaxy finished as the runner-up at the World Championship. The very next year, the team achieved the ultimate success by winning the 2017 League of Legends World Championship, securing the organization's second world title. This back-to-back finals appearance and subsequent victory confirmed what they are remembered for.

Acquisition and Controversial Legacy

Shortly after the 2017 World Championship victory, the Samsung Galaxy League of Legends roster and its LCK competitive spot were acquired by a new organization, KSV Esports, which later became known as Gen.G. This transaction ended Samsung's direct ownership of a professional League of Legends team. The status of Samsung Galaxy's historical titles and trophies, including the two Summoner's Cups from 2014 and 2017, became a topic of discussion. The legitimacy of Gen.G inheriting these titles remains controversial, as Samsung Electronics made no official announcement about retaining or transferring them. This left the historical legacy formally unattached to any active organization.

Organization Structure and End

Samsung Galaxy Pro-Game Team was a professional esports works team of Samsung Sports, owned by Samsung Electronics via its sub-company Cheil Worldwide. During its existence it had teams competing in League of Legends, StarCraft and StarCraft II. Following the sale of its League of Legends team and the earlier disbandment of its StarCraft divisions, the Samsung Galaxy esports organization effectively ceased operations. Samsung has since expanded its esports presence through sponsorships and partnerships, such as title sponsoring college events, rather than owning a team directly.