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T1’s MSI 2025 Hopes: Are the World Champs in Trouble?

fragster Stalingrad Dollosa 9. June 2025

Summary:

  • T1, the reigning world champions, finishes only third in the LCK Spring 2025.
  • Star players like Oner, Fake, Gumayusi are under pressure, with inconsistent team performance. 
  • T1 must win a tougher bracket to qualify for MSI 2025 after losing to HLE. 
  • Despite the struggles and challenges, T1 still has strong experience and talent.

T1, one of the most famous teams in League of Legends, enters the MSI 2025 as the reigning world champions. With star players like Faker, Oner, and Gumayusi, the expectations were very high. But recently, the team has been showing signs of struggle. This raises an important question: can T1 continue their chances of winning MSI 2025 high?   

Struggles in the LCK Spring Split

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T1 had a tough time during the LCK Spring Split. They only finished third, getting behind top teams like Gen.G and Hanwha Life Esports. Additionally, they lost badly to HLE with a 0-2 match, which hurt their standings. To make matters worse, their top laner, Zeus, left after World 2024 and the team brought Doran in, though he hasn’t played consistently. 

 

These issues affected the team’s coordination, especially affecting their teamwork and in-game decisions. As a result, fans are worried about T1’s chances of winning MSI 2025. 

Too Much Pressure on Key Players

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Another challenge T1 faces is the heavy reliance on their star players. T1’s chances at MSI 2025 may be at risk due to  T1 relies a lot on few players to carry the team. 

  • Oner, the jungler, has some great moments but also struggles. When he is not doing well, the team often falls behind
  • Many fans expect Faker and Gumayusi to turn things around in the late games, but they are struggling to keep up with stronger teams. 

Consequently, T1 needs more players to step up. In big tournaments such as MSI 2025 requires a full team effort, not only star players. 

A Difficult Path to MSI 2025

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Reaching MSI 2025 won’t be easy for T1. Only the top two teams from LCK get to go to MSI 2025. Because they didn’t place in the top two, they have to win more matches in the tougher part of the bracket. Additionally, their recent loss to HLE decreased their chances to qualify. In other words, T1 has to win several best-of-five matches to earn their spot at MSI 2025. 

What’s at Stake at MSI 2025

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Vancouver will host MSI 2025 from June 27 to July 12. It introduces a new “Fearless Draft” format, where teams can’t pick the same champions more than once. The LCK sends two teams, and T1 must perform well to have a chance to secure one of these spots. If T1 fails to bounce back, Gen.G and HLE might represent Korea instead. 

Are There Still Chances for T1 MSI 2025?

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Despite all the struggles, T1 still has some things going for them, such as:

  • They have won big tournaments before and know how to handle the weight of pressure. 
  • When they are in their best element and playing well, they can beat the best teams.
  • The upcoming Esports World Cup in Riyadh later this year draws them more attention. This makes their MSI performance even more significant.

Nevertheless, failing to qualify for MSI N2025 would mark their first absence from an international event in four years— something that could seriously impact their legacy. 

Conclusion

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In summary, is T1 in trouble? The answer is yes. The poor results in LCK, lineup changes, and difficult path threaten T1’s MSI 2025 chances. To bounce back, the team has to fix their team coordination, step up their performance and exert more effort. T1 has the talent and legacy, but this time, they might need to prove it all over again.