New Headline: Dive into the Depths of Adventure: Whale Team Races for Dominance in 2027 World Championship Finals
Team Secret Whales jungler Lê "Hizto" Văn Hoàng Hải on Vietnam's rise, the team's LCP Split 1 championship, and what it means to represent a region on the international stage at First Stand 2026 in São Paulo.
Lê "Hizto" Văn Hoàng Hải of Team Secret Whales is seen onstage at League of Legends Worlds 2025 Swiss Stage on October 16, 2025 in Beijing, China. The reality when it comes to competitive League of Legends is that Korea’s League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) and China’s League of Legends Professional League (LPL) are the top two regions in the global ecosystem. That doesn’t mean the remainder of Asia is willing to just throw in the towel to those regions.
Enter the League of Legends Champions Pacific (LCP), incorporating eight teams from Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Team Secret Whales emerged victorious from the 2026 LCP Split 1, finishing 9-1 overall to earn a spot in São Paulo, Brazil, to take part in First Stand 2026. They open their tournament Monday against a European side, G2 Esports.
“We have made it through the LCP to bring Vietnam to be the representative of the region,” TSW jungler Lê "Hizto" Văn Hoàng Hải said. Split 1 started off rocky for Team Secret Whales, with a 1-1 record in the first two weeks. TSW rallied, winning their next eight series to earn the LCP’s slot in Brazil.
“In the very beginning of this split, we had a lot of problems going on,” Lê said. “But as we move into the playoffs, we have made major improvements, and we have become way better. ” TSW ranks 16th in the first edition of the League of Legends Global Power Rankings, though the rankings can be skewed by 2025’s season despite roster shakeups.