Summary:
- Invictus Gaming (IG) qualify for Worlds 2025 after six years, beating JDG 3-1 in the LPL Regional Final.
- IG enter as LPL’s 4th seed, starting in the Play-In Stage with a best-of-five against LCK’s 4th seed, T1.
- IG vs T1 takes place on October 14, 2025, deciding who advances and who gets eliminated.
After six long years, Invictus Gaming (IG) are finally returning to the biggest League of Legends esports stage. The team earned their place at the 2025 World Championship by beating JD Gaming (JDG) 3-1 in the LPL Regional Finals. With that win, Invictus Gaming claimed the region’s fourth seed and will start their Worlds 2025 run in the Play-In stage.
A Long-Awaited Comeback
The last time fans saw IG on the Worlds stage was in 2019. Back then, the team was already facing the decline of its 2018 championship glory. After that victory, they struggled to stay at the top and eventually missed international tournaments for years. Their absence became one of the longest gaps for a former Worlds winner.
That drought ended on September 27, 2025, when IG finally clinched their return. Against JDG, Rookie and TheShy proved that their veteran experience still mattered. It wasn’t an easy road, but IG hit their stride at the perfect time, locking in the fourth LPL seed and a shot at redemption.
Rookie and TheShy Reunited
Rookie and TheShy were the stars of IG’s famous 2018 Worlds win, which was the very first time a Chinese team took the championship. Their strong teamwork ended South Korea’s long winning streak and shook up the League of Legends scene. But as IG stopped appearing at big international tournaments, people began to wonder if Rookie and TheShy were still as good as before.
When the two returned to IG this year, fans weren’t sure if they could still compete at the top level. The regional finals gave the answer. Rookie’s calm, consistent play in the mid lane and TheShy’s bold, aggressive moves in the top lane pushed IG to victory and reminded everyone why they were once legends.
The Road to Worlds 2025
IG’s journey in 2025 was far from smooth. Their roster—featuring TheShy, Jiejie, Rookie, GALA, and Meiko—had ups and downs throughout the year. They failed to qualify for MSI and the Esports World Cup, raising doubts about their form.
Things started to change in the third split when IG brought in a new jungler, Wei, who replaced Jiejie. Wei brought new energy and balance to the team. Invictus Gaming had a strong regular season and finished in second place, but they struggled in the playoffs, losing to both BLG and AL. Because of those losses, their last chance to qualify for Worlds was through the regional finals.
In that must-win series, IG finally clicked. Wei stood out with surprising picks like Zyra jungle, while GALA delivered big plays on champions such as Kalista and Kai’Sa. With veterans Rookie and TheShy holding the team together, Invictus Gaming defeated JDG and secured their long-awaited spot at Worlds 2025.
T1 vs Invictus Gaming at Worlds 2025 Play-Ins
With the new Worlds 2025 format, the fourth-place teams from China’s LPL and Korea’s LCK have to fight for a single spot in the main event. This means Invictus Gaming’s first challenge will be a Play-In series against T1, Korea’s fourth seed. It also sets up a long-awaited best-of-five battle between Rookie and Faker—a matchup fans have dreamed of for over ten years.
Both players are legendary veterans who are now in the later parts of their careers, which makes this clash even more special. The stakes couldn’t be higher: only one of them will advance to the Swiss Stage, while the other gets eliminated right away.
Invictus Gaming vs. T1 will also be the opening match of Worlds 2025, happening on October 14. Even though qualifying for Worlds is already a huge achievement, IG will surely be fighting for more. With TheShy and Rookie back as a duo, the big question is: can they take down T1 and keep their Worlds dream alive?
Conclusion
After years of ups and downs, Invictus Gaming have finally made it back to Worlds 2025. Their current roster found its form at the right moment and proved they still have what it takes. For veterans Rookie and TheShy, this is a big chance to show they can still stand among the best players in the world. IG, once a fallen giant, has been revived — but the real question is whether they can bring back their golden era.
With Rookie, TheShy, GALA, Meiko, and Wei leading the team, IG now has the chance to prove they’re not just living on old memories. No matter if they manage to beat T1 and go deeper into the tournament or not, their return to Worlds is already a story of resilience, legacy, and hope for something greater.
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