If you haven't been keeping tabs on the Pacific Championship Series (PCS) lately, you’re missing out on one of the weirdest, most aggressive, and surprisingly professional stories in the LoL esports world. We’re talking about CTBC Flying Oyster. Yeah, the name is a bit of a mouthful. Most people just call them CFO League of Legends. While the name might sound like a seafood restaurant or a strange financial firm, this team has basically become the final boss of Taiwanese League of Legends over the last couple of years. They aren't just some random org; they are backed by CTBC Bank, which is a massive financial institution in Taiwan. That means they have the kind of stability and funding that most teams in smaller regions can only dream about.
It’s honestly fascinating how quickly they rose to the top. CFO didn't just crawl into the scene. They exploded.
The Birth of the Flying Oyster
Back in late 2021, the PCS was going through a bit of a transition. Machi Esports, a legendary name in the region, decided to exit. In stepped CTBC Bank. They didn't just buy a slot; they built a culture. When CFO League of Legends officially debuted in 2022, people were skeptical. You can't just throw money at a roster and expect them to beat established giants like PSG Talon.
Except, they kind of did.
In their very first split, the Spring of 2022, they made it to the finals. They lost to PSG Talon (who doesn't?), but they proved they belonged. Then Summer hit. That’s when things got real. CFO won the 2022 PCS Summer Split, taking down Beyond Gaming in a 3-0 sweep. It was a statement. They weren't just a "new team." They were the new kings. That victory sent them straight to the Group Stage of Worlds 2022.
If you remember that Worlds run, it was a bit of a rollercoaster. They were in a group with T1, EDG, and Fnatic. Talk about a "Group of Death." They actually managed to take a game off 100 Thieves (who replaced Fnatic in that group's context of expectations), showing that even on the biggest stage, they weren't going to be pushovers.
Why the "Oyster" Name Actually Matters
You’re probably wondering why on earth they chose "Flying Oyster." It sounds like a bad translation, right? It’s actually a play on words related to their parent company, CTBC Bank. In Chinese, the phrase "We are family" is their slogan. The word for "Oyster" (蚵仔 - ô-á) sounds somewhat similar to "Family" or "Wealth" depending on the dialect and context used in their branding strategy. It’s a bit of a local cultural touchstone.
They wanted something that felt uniquely Taiwanese but also had that "flying" ambition.
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The Roster Shifts and the Karsa Factor
Last year, the CFO League of Legends project took a massive leap forward in terms of star power. If you follow the LPL (the Chinese league), you know the name Karsa. Hung Hao-hsuan. The "Radar Jungler." He’s a legend. He’s played for RNG, TES, and WBG. When it was announced that Karsa was returning to his home region to play for CFO in 2024, the internet lost its mind.
It wasn't just him, either. They brought in SwordArt. Yes, that SwordArt. The support who led Suning to a Worlds Final and had that massive contract with TSM in the LCS.
Putting Karsa and SwordArt on the same team in the PCS is like putting LeBron James and Steph Curry on a G-League team. It felt unfair. They also had Gori in the mid lane for a while—a guy who has played in the LCK, LPL, and LCS. This "Superteam" experiment made CFO the most talked-about team in the region.
But here is the thing about superteams: they don't always work perfectly.
The Struggle for Dominance
Despite having these legendary veterans, the 2024 season was a bit of a headache for CFO. They were dominant in the regular season, but the playoffs were a different beast. PSG Talon remained their kryptonite. There is this intense rivalry now between the "Old Guard" (PSG) and the "New Money" (CFO).
CFO’s playstyle is usually defined by Karsa’s pathing. Even as he gets older, his ability to track the enemy jungler is second to none. He basically plays chess while everyone else is playing checkers. They tend to play a very controlled, macro-heavy game, which is a bit different from the usual "fiesta" style people associate with the PCS.
Recent Performance Metrics
- 2022 Summer: 1st Place (PCS Champions)
- 2023 Summer: 2nd Place (Lost to PSG)
- 2024 Spring: 3rd Place
- 2024 Summer: Top 4 finish
You can see the consistency. They are never out of the top three. But for a team with CFO's budget and talent, anything less than 1st feels like a failure.
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The Tactical Identity of CFO League of Legends
When you watch a CFO game, look at how they handle the first 15 minutes. They are obsessed with Rift Herald and early dragon stacks. Because they have veterans like SwordArt, their vision score is usually the highest in the league. They don't take "dumb" fights. They wait for you to make a mistake in the fog of war and then they pounce.
Their top laner, Rest, has been a cornerstone of the team since the Machi days. He is arguably the best top laner the region has ever produced. He’s the guy who can play the weak side and still be relevant in a late-game teamfight. If Karsa is the brain, Rest is the backbone.
What People Get Wrong About the PCS
A lot of Western fans ignore the PCS because it’s a "minor region." That’s a mistake. The region has a history of upsetting world champions. Remember the Flash Wolves? CFO is basically the spiritual successor to that era of Taiwanese dominance.
When you look at CFO League of Legends, you aren't just looking at a regional team. You’re looking at a group of players who have competed at the highest levels in the world. They bring a level of professionalism that is raising the floor of the entire league.
The Future: LCP and Beyond
As we move into 2025 and 2026, the landscape of League of Legends esports is changing. Riot Games is merging leagues into the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP). This is going to be a multi-region powerhouse league.
CFO is perfectly positioned for this. Because they have the financial backing of CTBC, they are one of the few teams that can survive the transition and actually thrive. They are currently building out a state-of-the-art training facility in Taipei. They are investing in academy players. They aren't just looking at the next trophy; they are looking at the next decade.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking to get into following this team or just want to understand their impact on the global meta, here is what you need to do:
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Watch the VODs of the CFO vs. PSG rivalry. It is the highest level of League of Legends played outside of the LCK and LPL. The macro swaps and objective dancing are world-class.
Follow the "Radar Jungling" of Karsa. If you are a jungle main, watching Karsa’s POV is a masterclass in efficiency. He rarely wastes a movement. He is the king of being in the right place at the right time without ever being seen on a ward.
Keep an eye on the LCP transition. CFO will likely be a partner team in the new Pacific league. This means more international matchups and more chances to see them play against teams from Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
Don't bet against them in a Best-of-5. While they’ve had some stumbles, the veteran presence on this team makes them incredibly hard to knock out. They have "mental fortitude" in spades.
CFO League of Legends represents the modernization of the Pacific scene. They moved away from the scrappy, underfunded roots of the LMS/PCS and turned it into a professional, corporate-backed powerhouse. Whether you love them or hate them, they are the standard-setters for the region right now.
If you want to see if the old legends like Karsa and SwordArt still have one last "Cinderella run" in them for a World Championship, this is the team to watch. They are the bridge between the golden age of Taiwanese League and the new frontier of Pacific esports.
The best way to keep up is to follow the official PCS Twitch channel during the season. Matches usually happen on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in the GMT+8 timezone. It’s worth the watch, even if it’s just to see what kind of crazy picks they pull out to catch PSG off guard. CFO isn't going anywhere. They are the new reality of the Pacific.