LCK Throwdown! T1 faces Gen.G for the MSI 2025 title

The MSI comes down to this pivotal showdown between the LCK representatives of Gen.G and T1. A domestic Grand Finals that never materialised has turned into a two-time bout in the Vancouver arena.

While the Upper Finals went the way of Gen.G, the series was anything but one-sided, going the full 5 game distance. Now, one of these two teams is poised to lift the MSI trophy in just a few hours.

T1 began this year with more questions than answer and a form that looked a far cry from an international title contender. However, coming into Vancouver, the team once again transforms into world beaters. Faced against their ultimate Kryptonite with no lives left, can they beat the one team they’ve struggled against domestically time and time again?

Gen.G has continuously looked like one of the best teams in the world, except on the biggest stages. Domestically, they are nigh undefeatable. In 2024, they finally overcame one of their biggest hurdles, lifting the 2024 MSI trophy, a historic moment for the players on the roster who have been chasing after an international title for so long.

T1 has not made a Grand Finals of MSI since 2022. The organization has not won an MSI since 2017. By all accounts, Gen.G are in pole position to seize the MSI trophy and become the third team to ever win back-to-back MSI titles (after SK Telecom T1 and Royal Never Give Up). But League of Legends seldom plays out the way anyone expects it to.

8 Years Since Last MSI Title

It has been 8 years since Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has lifted an MSI title. A champion of multiple Worlds, MSI has continued to elude him even in his most recent successes. T1 began their season having to incorporate newcomer Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon after a tumultuous off-season saw T1’s former Top Laner Choi “Zeus” Woo-je depart from the roster.

Further uncertainty and shaking confidence saw formerly steady roles such as their Bot Lane enter a period of instability. After missing First Stand earlier this year, hopes were not high they would even qualify for MSI with both Hanwha Life and Gen.G standing guard at the top of the LCK. But, as fate would have it, T1 bested one to qualify, and will now have to overcome the other to win MSI.

Poised to Make History

Gen.G came into Toronto as one of the strong favorites to seize the tournament. A powerhouse performance throughout the year saw them just narrowly behind a hot-hand wielding Hanwha Life for First Stand qualification. In the Rounds 1-2, they became the second team ever in the LCK to achieve a perfect 18-0 undefeated run. As the current champion of MSI, they are looking to defend their title for the first year running, but they’ll have to defeat a T1 in international form – no small feat.

Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon has long been considered by many to be the penultimate League of Legends player. His performance continues to an essential core to what makes Gen.G such as a powerhouse to face. But regardless of how much he achieves, the shadow of Faker continues to loom over him. Today, he has the opportunity to match Faker’s record for MSI titles, taking him one step closer to claiming the crown that should have been his all along.

How to Watch MSI 2025 Grand Finals?

MSI 2025 will be livestreamed on Twitch and YouTube. Follow the match on Strafe Esports live for the stats and the plays.

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

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