(LEAD) Lions beat steep odds to capture Korean Series title

The Samsung Lions captured the Korean Series title after overcoming steep odds, becoming the seventh team to win after losing the first game in the postseason. Wide in the regular season, the Lions were underdogs against the KT Wiz, who had the top seed and No. 1 regular-season record. The Lions had to go through the penultimate round of playoffs, a stage where teams had only a 5% chance of winning the championship since the split regular-season format was introduced in 1989.

The Lions began their comeback with a split of two games on the road and then won three consecutive games at home, including a decisive 10-5 victory in the fourth game that gave them a 3-1 series lead. Veteran outfielder Choi Hyoung-woo, 42, became the oldest Korean Series champion, while catcher Kang Min-ho earned his first title in his 23-year career.

Managing the Lions to the title proved challenging for manager Park Jin-man, who won his first ring on his second attempt. Park credited the players' determination and resilience for their success, noting that making pitching changes was particularly tough. He vowed to repeat as champions next year, citing the team's lineup and returning key bullpen pitchers.