T1 Manages To Qualify For Worlds After 5 Brutal Games Against KT

T1 makes it back to the Worlds stage! After narrowly clinching the victory over KT in a nerve-wracking best-of-five match, T1 qualifies for League of Legends World Championships 2024 as LCK’s fourth and final seed. 

On September 14, 2024, the LCK Regional Finals 2024 saw a high-stakes game between long-standing rivals T1 and KT Rolster. After an intense back and forth in a 5-game series between the two formidable contenders, T1 ultimately claimed their Worlds 2024 ticket, and earned their chance to defend their Worlds 2023 championship title.

A Close Call for the Champions

T1, led by Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is one of the most decorated League of Legends esports teams, with four World championships and multiple trophies to their name. However, the team is definitely struggling this season, most notably during the Summer Splits, winning narrow victories and facing disappointing losses.

Placing third in the LCK Summers, T1 only needed one win against DPlus KIA in the Regional Finals to enter Worlds as third seed. However, DPlus denied T1 of that chance, winning 3-2 over the reigning Worlds champions despite never beating them in a series since 2022. Owing to this loss, T1 landed in the finals match against KT for the last Worlds spot.

A Classic Rivalry: The Telecom War

T1 and KT Rolster faced each other again in a match-up dubbed as the “Telecom War” for the third round of LCK Regional Finals 2024. Living up to its name, the intense Bo5 series showcased the best of both teams. Neither would relent in the do-or-die battle, dragging the series to the full distance.

Battle Breakdown: Key Moments in the Five-Game Series

Game 1: T1 Lands the First Strike

T1 kicked off the match with an early lead, taking the first game in under 27 minutes with a draft strategy that focused on securing powerful champions like Azir and Ziggs while taking Smolder away from KT’s Bdd. Successfully blocking off the champion T1 has a history of struggling against, the team is off to a strong start.

Game 2: KT Rolster Bounces Back

KT striked back in Game 2, claiming their turn to deny T1 of Azir and Tristana, the former being an important factor to last game’s victory. They took T1 to brutal team fights and gained a 25-8 kill lead thanks to Bdd’s Yone pick, evening the score in an intense 32 minute-game.

Game 3: T1 Regains Control

Once again pulling off a successful ban strategy, T1 targeted Bdd’s champion pool and forced KT towards uncomfortable picks, banning Smolder, Maokai, Tristana, and Yone. Settling for Corki didn’t fare well for KT’s mid laner and T1 took advantage of it, securing another win in less than 28 minutes. 

Game 4: KT Pushes T1 to the Brink

KT refused to back down heading into the fourth game. While T1 played it safe with a strong scaling composition, KT managed to overcome the odds. Against the Ashe-Braum combo, Zeus’ Jax, and Faker’s Taliyah, having Bdd’s Yone back in the game became the key to KT’s win. KT took the game in under 36 minutes.

Game 5: T1’s Clutch Performance

Game 5 was nail-biting from start to finish, ending with a close 9-8 kill lead in favor of T1. KT started strong with consecutive kills, but T1 managed to hold out and focus on map objectives.

T1’s key to victory came in the bold move to pick Yone for Zeus, who delivered an impressive performance. Additionally, KT fumbled team fights near the Baron pit and in the jungle, which ended up turning the tides against them. T1 secured both the Baron and Dragon and saw an opening to march to KT’s base, bringing the 33-minute bloodbath to an end.

Relief and Heartbreak: What Lies Ahead for T1 and KT Rolster

KT Rolster can now add another tick to the tally of matches lost against their old “Telecom War” rival. Their loss was heartbreaking especially for Deft, KT’s bot laner who, like Faker, had been competing since 2013. In what might be their last face-off as he plans to retire for military service, Deft was able to force T1 to Silver Scrapes and give an all-out performance that is nothing short of stellar. KT’s loss marks a bittersweet end to their season and potentially Deft’s brilliant career.

Meanwhile, T1 have cut it too close, being the last out of 20 teams to qualify for Worlds 2024 even as last year’s champions. After a disappointing Summer Splits, their victory over KT Rolster is almost a lifeline, keeping their Worlds ambitions alive. T1’s chants of triumph seemed to have turned to sighs of relief, and they are only yet to face their biggest challenge this year.

An Anticipated Comeback

There’s only less than two weeks before the opening biggest event in competitive League of Legends. The pressure weighs heavy on one of League’s top teams, with making it to Worlds considered as bare minimum. T1 has finally made it with a last-minute effort, but can they make drastic improvements just before the tournament starts?

Fans are now hopeful, but at the same time skeptical about T1’s quest to defend their title. Will T1 be able to tread on a road to redemption, or are they truly bound to “fall from grace”?