T1 vs KT Rolster: Telecom War Heads to Worlds 2025 Grand Final

Summary:

T1 and KT Rolster will face each other in the upcoming League of Legends Worlds 2025 Grand Final on November 9.

The long-standing rivalry of the two LCK organizations is also known as the “Telecom War”, owing to the backing of rival telecom companies during their early days.

T1 qualified to the Grand Final through defeating Anyone’s Legend and Top Esports in the Knockout Stage, while KT Rolster secured their slot after victories over CTBC Flying Oyster and Gen.G Esports.

After four thrilling knockout matches, the stage is now set for an unforgettable Worlds 2025 Grand Final. Only two teams remain: the reigning champions T1 and the determined underdogs KT Rolster. As the biggest event in League of Legends esports heads to Chengdu, fans are about to witness the ultimate “Telecom War.” Will T1 continue to add another victory to their legacy, or will KT finally end the streak and win their first-ever world championship?

A Rivalry with Deep Roots

The fact that there’s even a special nickname for this specific matchup says a lot about how strong this rivalry is. The “Telecom War” refers to matches between T1 and KT Rolster, a rivalry that started in the early 2000s.

At that time, both teams were owned by South Korea’s biggest telecom companies—SK Telecom and KT Corporation—and they often faced each other in StarCraft tournaments When these organizations joined League of Legends in 2013, their rivalry carried over to the new game.

The first League of Legends Telecom War ended with T1 winning 2-0, and they’ve continued to stay ahead ever since. Over the years, T1 has become a global powerhouse and a five-time Worlds champion, making the rivalry mostly one-sided. Even this year, T1 leads KT with a 7-1 head-to-head record.

Meanwhile, KT Rolster has always been a strong team, but they haven’t reached the same level of success. Their biggest achievements include winning the 2018 LCK Summer title and making it to the Worlds quarterfinals several times. Now, they finally have a chance to change that story.

KT Rolster’s Unexpected Rise

KT Rolster entered Worlds 2025 as Korea’s third seed, and few people expected them to actually reach the Grand Final. Some fans even claimed KT’s early success came from facing “weaker” teams in the Swiss Stage. However, KT proved their strength by finishing the stage with a flawless 3-0 record, easily qualifying for the Knockouts.

In the quarterfinals, KT Rolster swept the rising team CTBC Flying Oyster without losing a single game. Then, to silence their critics once and for all, KT defeated Gen.G Esports with a massive 3-1 upset. Gen.G had dominated the entire year, winning both the Esports World Cup and the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) earlier in 2025. The fact that KT managed to beat them convincingly was enough proof that KT truly earned their victories.

T1’s Road to Glory

On the other hand, T1 are treading a path that looks a lot like their run at Worlds 2024—but tougher. Once again, the defending champions struggled to find their form and came close to elimination three times before finally making it to the Knockout Stage. After their 3-1 Play-Ins match against Invictus Gaming, T1 then went 3-2 in the Swiss Stage with losses to CTBC Flying Oyster and Gen.G.

Yet, just like last year, T1 came to life once the Knockout Stage began. They narrowly defeated Anyone’s Legend 3-2, then dominated Top Esports with a clean sweep to reach the Worlds 2025 Grand Final. After facing plenty of doubts about their earlier performance, T1 finally seem to have regained their form and confidence.

What’s on the Line

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both sides. T1 aims to make history by winning three straight world championships, something no team has ever done. A victory would give them their sixth Summoner’s Cup and further cement Faker’s place as the greatest player of all time.

For KT Rolster, this is a chance to finally claim their first world title after years of falling behind T1. While T1 leads their all-time record 110–56 since 2015, KT has a confidence boost from beating T1 2-0 earlier this year in the LCK. If there was ever a time for KT to rise above their rivals, it’s now.

Conclusion

Over the years, the Telecom War has mostly had one dominant side—T1. But the Worlds 2025 Grand Final gives both teams a new opportunity. For T1, it’s a chance to extend their legacy and prove their dominance once again. For KT, it’s their moment to finally get revenge on the biggest League of Legends stage. When they face off on November 9 for the Summoner’s Cup, history will be made no matter who wins.

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Stalingrad Dollosa

Stalingrad Dollosa is an award-winning esports journalist with over 5 years of experience covering the global competitive scene. Specializing in titles like Dota 2, CS2, and Mobile Legends, he combines deep game knowledge with a talent for storytelling and analysis. His work has earned industry recognition for its clarity, accuracy, and engaging style. Known for breaking key stories and delivering sharp tournament coverage, Stalingrad brings a professional, data-driven edge to every article. At Fragster, he continues to set the standard in esports reporting, offering fans expert insights and high-quality content that captures the pulse of the game.