Having completed in 4th place for the final LCK cut up earlier than Worlds 2025, T1 needed to play a set towards Invictus Gaming, the LPL’s 4th seed, to make it to Worlds correct – and one participant was really the distinction maker within the collection.
In contrast to different LoL worldwide occasions previously, the Play-In stage consists of just one best-of-5 set to find out which fourth seed between the LPL and LCK, the 2 strongest areas, will advance to the Worlds 2025 foremost occasion.
Oner was the MVP for T1 of their Worlds 2025 Play-In match. Picture Credit score: Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot
And, identical to clockwork, T1 have turned issues up for Worlds to placed on a dominant exhibiting towards Invictus Gaming. Regardless of coming in because the worst LCK staff by seed, they’ve nonetheless obtained a stable shot at defending their title.
T1 Rebound Forward of Worlds 2025 Principal Stage
In some ways, 2025 has been a stoop yr for T1. Gen.G have effectively and really stolen the highlight, with them stealing the lion’s share of glory on the worldwide stage this yr. Between their back-to-back MSI and Esports World Cup wins and full home dominance, it’s arduous to not purchase into the Gen.G hype practice.
Nevertheless, of their opening set towards Invictus Gaming, T1 got here to life. The hole between the 2 groups solely widened because the set went on, with the defending world champions exhibiting why they’ve obtained such a powerful report at worldwide occasions.
Nevertheless, T1’s dynamic could be very completely different this yr. There’s one participant who has stood out above all others on the staff, one who usually was considered as a weak hyperlink in previous years: Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun.
ONER SURVIVES pic.twitter.com/vRedpTIXOx
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 14, 2025
Whereas Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is named the Unkillable Demon King, previously few collection T1 have performed, Oner has been stealing that title because the deciding issue on whether or not or not they win matches.
In video games 3 and 4, iG’s Yan “Wei” Yang-Wei was outmatched fully within the jungle, with him having no method to present presence on the map and power T1 to worry him. If Wei managed to get one choose on Faker, Oner could be some place else, taking out three members and getting an goal.
With this win, T1 have claimed the final spot within the Swiss Stage at Worlds 2025, and so they’ll be instantly combating FlyQuest on day 1. And, regardless of FlyQuest being the primary seed from their area and T1 being fourth, T1 is definitely favored within the matchup.
Although there’s a protracted championship forward, it’s necessary to recollect T1 gained final yr after coming in because the fourth LCK seed. Simply because they have been final to qualify doesn’t imply they will’t win it once more.
This could be much more vital given latest information that Riot Video games is absorbing the LCK after immense monetary losses transferring ahead.
