RNG face T1 in MSI Grand Final

Two teams remain at MSI 2022. RNG and T1 will face off on May 29 with the MSI trophy, and $75,000, on the line.

After 19 days and 68 matches, the Grand Final of MSI 2022 has arrived. Defending tournament champions RNG take on LCK champions T1 in a legendary match. Both teams will be looking to earn their record-breaking third MSI title.

Royal Never Give Up

2021 was a rollercoaster for RNG. They began by winning the LPL Spring split and followed that with their second MSI title. But then began the slide — a fifth-place finish in the LPL Summer split, necessitating Worlds qualification via the Regional Finals; a quarterfinals exit at Worlds itself, followed by a quarterfinals exit at the Demacia Cup.

But Spring 2022 was a return to form. Finishing second in the LPL standings with a 12-4 record, they battled their way through the latter stages of the LPL playoffs. It culminated in a 3-2 victory in the Grand Final over Top Esports, meaning RNG would have the chance to defend their MSI title.

RNG cruised through the MSI Group Stage, going 6-0 against PSG Talon, RED Canids, and İstanbul Wild Cats. Despite dropping a game to G2 on the first day of the Rumble Stage, RNG handily earned the top seeding for the knockouts, finishing with an 8-2 record.

In the semifinals, RNG selected LCS champions Evil Geniuses as their next victims, out-killing the North American org 68-32 in a three-game sweep. Games two and three saw some fight from Evil Geniuses, but never enough to trouble the LPL champions.

Throughout this entire tournament, RNG have shown that they are the team to beat. With a devastating bot lane duo of Chen “GALA” Wei and Shi “Ming” Sen-Ming and the team-wide ability to snowball any matchup they are present with, RNG demand the best from their opponents before showing that even your best isn’t good enough.

T1

For the first time since Worlds 2017, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok will compete in the Grand Final at an international event. It was been a half-decade of pain for League of Legends’ greatest player — down years in 2018 and 2020 when T1 failed to qualify for either MSI or Worlds; a 2019 campaign that saw them fall in the semifinals of both MSI and Worlds to the Perkz-led G2, and a 2021 Worlds where they were one game away from the Grand Final, but couldn’t close it out against DWG KIA.

But 2022 has been a comeback year for the org. They achieved a perfect record in the LCK Spring split, with four of their five starters being named to the All-LCK First Team. They steamrolled the playoffs to win their first LCK title since Spring 2020. In the MSI group stage, they were unstoppable, easing their way to a 6-0 record against DetonatioN FocusMe, Saigon Buffalo, and Team Aze. But then they faltered — in the opening match of the Rumble Stage, they were beaten by G2. They lost again on Day 2, putting them at a tepid 2-2 record. While they rallied to eventually 7-3, doubts had started to form in the minds of some.

But the most dangerous thing to do in League esports is doubt the Unkillable Dragon King. T1 were unquestionably dominant, sweeping G2 3-0. Faker recorded a 17/5/12 stat line in the three-game series as the LCK champions shut down G2 across the Rift.

With the win over G2, T1 now find themselves in an intriguing Grand Final. They may face the defending MSI champions in RNG, but both sides are seeking the same thing – their third MSI title. T1 took home back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 while RNG’s pair came in 2018 and 2021. One of these powerhouse organizations will set a new record. The question remains — which one?

RNG face T1 in the Grand Final of MSI 2022, which is due to begin on May 29 at 0900 BST/1000 CEST.

Header: Riot Games, T1, RNG