Summary:
- Worlds 2025 Play-Ins on October 14, 2025 featured a single Bo5 match between T1 and Invictus Gaming.
- T1 defeated IG with a 3-1 score, with Oner earning Player of the Series for his consistent and impactful performances.
- IG now bowed out of the competition, while T1 advanced to the Swiss Stage.
The League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) 2025 has only just started, but its opening series already felt like a grand final. T1 went up against Invictus Gaming (IG) in the Play-Ins and came out on top with a 3-1 victory. The hype was unreal for this early elimination match, sending IG home and T1 to Swiss. Here’s a closer look at this intense T1 vs IG showdown.
Worlds 2025 Play-Ins: A Clash of Legends
The Worlds Play-Ins format has changed for 2025. Instead of teams from smaller regions playing against each other, the format now features one best-of-five (Bo5) elimination match between the fourth-seed teams from the top two regions of the MSI tournament. This year, those regions are the LCK (South Korea) and the LPL (China).
That means T1 and Invictus Gaming had to face off right away in a high-stakes, win-or-go-home match. T1 entered as the defending champion and favorite to win. Meanwhile, Invictus Gaming hoped to recreate the magic of their 2018 title run. Fans were thrilled to see T1 vs IG open the Worlds 2025 Play-Ins in Beijing, and the series didn’t disappoint.
T1 vs IG Series Breakdown
The best-of-five between T1 and IG lasted just one game short of a Silver Scrapes. Every game was filled with jaw-dropping plays, clutch moments, and pure teamfight dominance as two giants clashed on the Rift. Both teams are icons in League of Legends history, with seven World Championship titles combined. So, it wasn’t really a surprise that they made this feel less like a Play-Ins match and more like a Playoffs showdown. Here’s how the series went.
Game 1
The first game started off evenly, with both teams trading kills and objectives. However, as the match went on, T1’s coordination and teamwork became more noticeable. Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong stood out with an impressive performance, leading T1 to win several key teamfights.
Even though they were behind in gold, T1 turned the game around with a well-executed team clash that earned them the Baron buff. With that advantage, they quickly pushed forward and took down IG’s turrets. After a 34-minute battle, T1 confidently secured the first win of the series.
Game 2
Invictus Gaming didn’t go down without a fight and managed to tie the series in Game 2. This time, they played with a more aggressive strategy that surprised T1. Chen “GALA” Wei’s Caitlyn led the charge, helping IG take control early on.
From the start, IG dominated the map, securing objectives one after another and leaving T1 with few chances to respond. Although T1 tried to make a comeback, IG stayed in control and finished the game in 37 minutes, evening the score at 1–1 and proving they were still a serious threat.
Game 3
In Game 3, T1 quickly adjusted their strategy. Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon took control of the map early, setting up plays that gave his team a strong lead. Known for his dominance at Worlds, Oner proved it again with a 10/1/11 Xin Zhao performance.
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s calm leadership also helped keep the team focused, and T1 slowly broke down IG’s defenses. After a decisive teamfight around Baron, T1 ended the game and took back the series lead 2–1.
Game 4
The final match was intense from start to finish. IG’s top laner Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok on an unconventional Varus pick gave his team hope early on, but Oner’s brilliant plays on Nocturne completely shifted the game. His perfect ultimates disrupted IG’s formation, allowing T1 to win every major teamfight.
After 27 minutes of action, T1 destroyed the Nexus and sealed the series 3–1, officially qualifying for the Swiss Stage.
Key Players and Highlights
The T1 vs IG series once again proved why T1 is one of the strongest teams in League of Legends. Oner stood out as the Player of the Series, showing consistent performance from start to finish. He controlled key objectives and created plays that helped his teammates secure wins. Oner also earned the Player of the Game title for Games 3 and 4.
Meanwhile, Gumayusi made a big impact in teamfights with his precise mechanics, earning the Player of the Game award for Game 1.
On the other hand, IG’s Yan “Wei” Yang-wei shined in Game 2 with his impressive Wukong gameplay. He finished with a 5/2/14 KDA and was named Player of the Game, showing that he has the skill to challenge even the best players.
What’s Next?
This marks T1’s 10th appearance at Worlds, and with this victory, they’ve secured their spot in the Swiss Stage and earned a chance to defend their championship title. If T1 manages to win it all again, it would be the sixth Worlds trophy for Faker and the T1 organization. For Oner, Gumayusi, and Keria, it would be their third title, while Doran would claim his first-ever championship.
As for Invictus Gaming (IG), their Worlds 2025 journey ends here, but their performance showed a lot of potential. Facing one of the strongest teams in the world gave the Chinese squad valuable experience to build on. They finish 17th overall and take home $75,000 in prize money. Many fans are already looking forward to seeing IG return stronger next season.
Conclusion
The T1 vs IG match was the perfect way to kick off Worlds 2025. It was packed with action, surprising moments, and high-level plays from both teams. After winning the series, T1 secured their spot in the Swiss Stage, where the competition will get even tougher. If T1 can keep up their strong teamwork and focus, they have a real chance to make history with a third straight Worlds championship.
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