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The Reign Continues

The 2025 League of Legends World Championship semifinals came to a dramatic close in Shanghai, where back-to-back world champions T1 dismantled Top Esports (TES) in a commanding 3-0 sweep. The victory marks T1’s fourth consecutive Worlds Grand Final appearance and their eighth overall, as the South Korean powerhouse continues to prove why they’re the undisputed kings of international League of Legends.

Once again, the saying rings true: “T1 doesn’t lose to the LPL.”
This latest triumph extends their incredible record to 13 consecutive best-of-five wins against Chinese teams on the Worlds stage, a streak spanning over a decade.

A Rough Start Turned Ruthless Momentum

T1’s journey to this point wasn’t without turbulence. Their Swiss Stage campaign started confidently with a win over FlyQuest but quickly faltered with losses to CTBC Flying Oyster and Gen.G. Still, the reigning champs bounced back with dominant 2-0 victories over 100 Thieves and Movistar KOI, securing a spot in the Knockout Stage.

From there, T1 flipped the switch. They edged out Anyone’s Legend in a nail-biting 3-2 quarterfinal series before unleashing their full potential against Top Esports.

TES, entering as the LPL’s third seed, had been riding high after defeating G2 Esports and 100 Thieves in the Swiss Stage and taking revenge against Bilibili Gaming to secure their playoff berth. But once they met T1, their run came to a screeching halt.

Game 1 – The Slow Burn

The opening match began cautiously, both sides feeling each other out with tight laning and even gold trades. Yet beneath the calm surface, T1 quietly took control of neutral objectives and rotations, forcing TES onto the back foot.

A pivotal teamfight around Atakhan broke the stalemate, with T1 coming out on top and turning their map pressure into a Baron buff. TES scrambled to hold their ground, but Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s leadership and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok’s crisp engages ensured that T1 never lost control. After 30 minutes, the defending champions closed out Game 1 with clinical precision.

Game 2 – Gumayusi Unleashed

TES tried to shake things up in Game 2, pushing the tempo early with more aggressive plays. However, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong had other plans. His Kai’Sa performance was nothing short of spectacular, dodging every gank and tearing through TES’s fragile backline.

T1’s coordination was spotless, Keria’s setups, Faker’s follow-ups, and Oner’s map control kept TES pinned down. By the 28-minute mark, T1 had built an insurmountable gold lead and demolished TES’s Nexus in a 25–8 kill stomp.

Game 3 – Kanavi’s Effort, But T1 Too Strong

Desperate to stay alive, Top Esports came out swinging in Game 3. Jungler Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok tried to set the pace with early picks, and top laner Bai “369” Jiahao continued to impress with creative plays on K’Sante and Ambessa.

But T1’s teamfighting once again proved superior. Every skirmish swung their way, their macro decisions immaculate. TES’s aggression backfired as T1 punished every mistake. With a 34–15 kill lead and total map dominance, T1 stormed into TES’s base for one final Nexus takedown, securing a clean sweep and their place in yet another Worlds Grand Final.

Faker and Keria Shine Once Again

While Gumayusi dazzled on damage duty, the heart of T1’s success was still Faker and Keria. The veteran midlaner played a flawless series, always where he needed to be, while Keria’s Rakan, Renata Glasc, and Neeko once again showcased his versatility and game sense.

Their synergy, backed by Zeus’s stable top-lane presence and Oner’s calculated jungle control, left TES with no openings.

The Telecom War Awaits

With this win, T1 set up one of the most anticipated finals in League of Legends history, an all-Korean showdown against KT Rolster. It’s the first all-LCK Worlds Final since 2022, when T1 fell to DRX in one of the most memorable championship runs ever.

This time, though, the stakes are even higher. Dubbed the “Telecom War”, the clash between T1 (representing SK Telecom) and KT (representing KT Corporation) brings decades of rivalry from Korea’s telecommunications industry straight into the Summoner’s Rift.

History is calling once again, and with both teams at their peak, Worlds 2025’s Grand Final could go down as one of the greatest ever.

TES Bow Out with Pride

Despite the loss, Top Esports can hold their heads high. Their semifinals finish marks their best international result in years, and their third-to-fourth place standing earns them US$400,000. With young stars and renewed confidence, the LPL squad will be looking to return stronger next year.