Summary
- T1 took down Bilibili Gaming with a decisive 3-0 sweep this July 6, at the Upper Bracket Semifinal of MSI 2025.
- This particular matchup is a “revenge match”, with both teams having suffered defeats against the other in previous tournaments.
- T1 advances to the Upper Bracket Final while BLG drops to the Lower Bracket Round 2.
As titans clashed in the Upper Bracket Semifinals of MSI 2025, viewers witnessed a brutal revenge. T1 and Bilibili Gaming (BLG) faced off once again to settle some scores, and one team successfully took the win.
There were neither comebacks nor Silver Scrapes—just a perfect, clean sweep from T1 against their LPL rivals. Here’s how the MSI 2025 T1 vs BLG series went down.
A Rivalry Revisited
This Upper Bracket Semifinal matchup, dubbed a “revenge match” by fans, actually goes a long way back. Both teams have bitter histories of defeat in the hands of each other, becoming their reasons for revenge.
T1 sought to break their “curse” of never winning against BLG in MSI. Meanwhile, BLG looked to avenge their loss from the Worlds 2024 finals where T1 lifted the trophy. The remaining question was which team could succeed in doing it. So, going into the MSI 2025 T1 vs BLG showdown, the stakes were sky-high.
Series Breakdown: T1 3-0s
In their respective Bracket Stage opening matches, T1 and BLG performed quite differently. T1 showing shaky form in a tense 3-2 series against CFO. Meanwhile, BLG comfortably dispatched MKOI 3-1 with precision and control.
Many predicted a close series and even a complete stomp from BLG because of this. They looked like the better team overall, and more consistent, too. However, T1 knew how to surprise everyone with clutch performances all too well. Their teamfighting and map control were just better, shattering doubts about their current tournament form.
Game 1
BLG started strong with early kills and built a 3-0 lead. However, T1 had the better draft and a clean execution to match it. Oner’s Pantheon and Faker’s Orianna picks proved to be deadly in their hands. At around 11 minutes, Oner’s engage followed by Faker’s double kill in the dragon fight flipped the game in T1’s favor.
From there, T1 just kept tight control over the objectives. They kept denying BLG the chance to defeat them in teamfights, eventually leaving their opponents with no room to breathe. T1 took Game 1 of the series in under 27 minutes with a 22-8 kill score.
Game 2
BLG adjusted their strategy in Game 2 and tried again with a better draft. Similar to Game 1, the LPL team racked up a 5-1 kill score during the early game. Despite falling behind in kills, however, T1 stayed composed. They eventually won a crucial teamfight near Atakhan at 24 minutes, and that was enough to turn the fight around.
Once again, their objective control shone through as they continued stacking their third dragon. With smart rotations and taking both Baron and Dragon Soul, T1 crushed BLG’s chances of a comeback. LCK’s #2 seed marched ahead to a 2-0 series lead, bringing the game to match point.
Game 3
In the third and final game, BLG pushed hard with an aggressive opener. knight’s Ahri got first blood on Faker’s Ryze and the team followed it up with more pressure. For a moment, their strategy looked very promising. Yet, T1’s coordination and teamfight power ultimately turned the tide again.
Despite BLG’s brief moments of resistance—including a 2-for-2 ambush in bot lane—T1’s tempo and execution never faltered. Faker’s Ryze ultimate enabled rapid map rotations that eventually broke BLG’s defenses. A final Baron and teamfight sealed the series as T1 destroyed BLG’s Nexus for the third time in a row.
What This Means for T1 and BLG
With this clean sweep, T1 now advances to face Gen.G in the Winners’ Final on July 9. Whoever wins there will then advance to the MSI 2025 Grand Final. Since they’re facing a fellow LCK team, this basically guarantees their region an additional Worlds ‘25 slot.
It’s undeniable that T1 won the series largely due to their coordination and objective control. However, an individual key part of these successes is their jungler, Oner. For this, he received the ‘Player of the Series’ award recognizing his standout performance across all three games.
Meanwhile, the team’s midlaner, Faker, also made history as the first player to reach 200 international wins. Once again, he solidified his legacy as League of Legends’ greatest player of all time.
On the other hand, BLG drops to the Lower Bracket and must fight to stay in the tournament. They will face NA’s #1 seed, FlyQuest, on July 8. Should they win, they will advance to the Lower Bracket Semifinal to face the winner of CFO vs AL. However, losing there would mean elimination for them instead.
Conclusion
The MSI 2025 T1 vs BLG series went differently than most people expected it to, yet gave us a thrilling fight nevertheless. Many thought that T1 would struggle, but they dominated every game. They denied BLG their revenge and instead broke their own curse. With this, T1 didn’t just win—they made a statement.
Now, everyone can look forward to the Upper Bracket Final against Gen.G. This is another great rivalry that many wouldn’t want to miss. Mark your calendars for July 9, 5PM PDT and stay tuned for what could be one of the best clashes of the year!
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