Can the West Survive? MSI 2025 Playoffs: Opening Matchups Preview and Predictions

Now that the Play-In Stage has drawn to a close, it's time to head over to the Playoffs at MSI 2025. Bilibili Gaming and G2 Esports booked their tickets to the final stage, but now the real test begins.

Some stellar opening matches await to kick off the bracket on Tuesday, July 1st. FlyQuest, Movistar KOI, and G2 Esports are the only Western teams remaining at the tournament — can one of these hold their ground against the Asian titans, or will the Eastern favorites dominate the international stage once more?

Gen.G vs G2 Esports: A One-Sided Affair

For years, G2 has stood as the sole Western hope at international tournaments. This time around, though, the former Kings of the LEC look like a shadow of their former selves.

During the Play-Ins, G2 only just managed to book their ticket to the playoffs through dramatic 3-2 victories against both FURIA and GAM Esports. Despite their opponents coming from regions that have been historically weaker than the LEC, G2 failed to look convincing in either series, raising serious questions about the team's current level of strength.

Meanwhile, on the other side of this matchup, we have the overwhelming favorites to win the whole of MSI 2025: Gen.G. The South Korean squad achieved an undefeated season in the LCK ahead of MSI, dominating what is perhaps the most competitive region in the world.

Prediction

Gen.G are clinical, aggressive, and seldom let go of a lead. Given G2's current level of play, expect their rivals from the LCK to dominate this match as Gen.G close out the series 3-0.

An overwhelming 82% of the Strafe fan votes selected Gen.G to win this match, demonstrating the side's superiority.

Anyone's Legend vs FlyQuest: Can AL Live Up to the Hype?

After lifting their first-ever LPL trophy ahead of MSI, the hype surrounding Anyone's Legend is at an all-time-high. By the hand of Head Coach Wong "Tabe" Pak Kan, Anyone's Legend has built one of the strongest sides in competitive League of Legends despite their seeming lack of star power (outside of the veteran, and always relevant, Lee "Tarzan" Seung-yong).

FlyQuest, meanwhile, are no doubt one of the strongest Western teams at the tournament. Their opening match of the playoffs against Anyone's Legend, though, will be a great chance for the LTA squad to prove just how strong they are exactly. With a flashy and dynamic top side, can FlyQuest stop the AL hype train dead in its tracks?

Prediction

We expect FlyQuest to put up a good fight against the LPL champions. That said, the series should still go the way of Anyone's Legend by a score of 3-1 or 3-2.

Once more, our voters lean the way of the Asian squad, with 78% of the Strafe fan votes picking Anyone's Legend to win.

Movistar KOI vs Bilibili Gaming: The Final Hope

With North America sending only one team to MSI 2025, Joseph "Jojopyun" Pyun and the rest of Movistar KOI will have to act as honorary representatives of the region at the tournament. A dynamic and often unpredictable team, MKOI comfortably got past G2 to win the LEC, and will now look to put on a good showing on the international stage.

BLG's run in the LPL so far this year has certainly been a bumpy one. The team that dominated the region not too long ago has struggled to live up to their former heights. The addition of the team's new jungler Ling "Beichuan" Yang breathed new life into BLG, though, and now the team is ramping up at the perfect time.

Can Movistar KOI make the West proud by triumphing over BLG, or will the Eastern teams sweep the opening round of games at MSI 2025?

Prediction

This is perhaps the toughest of the four matches to call. In the end, we believe Movistar KOI has what it takes to make it to the next round in the Upper Bracket. Expect this series to be a close one, but Movistar KOI could come away with the 3-2 win in the end.

The voters believe in the East's superiority, with 80% of the Strafe fan votes choosing BLG to win this match.

CTBC Flying Oyster vs T1: The World Champions Are Hungry

T1's resurgence during the LCK 2025 Road to MSI was stunning to watch. Despite the team's struggles during the first half of the year, T1 kicked into gear at just the right time, sweeping a star-studded Hanwha Life Esports largely on the back of Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon's stellar performances. If the team has any hopes of lifting the MSI 2025 trophy, then they will need to return to their back-to-back Worlds-winning form, with or without Choi "Zeus" Woo-je.

CTBC Flying Oyster, on the other hand, struggled to take down their domestic rivals of GAM to qualify for the MSI 2025 Bracket Stage. The team is packed with potential and certainly don't lack the drive to win, but against a rival as titanic as T1, their opening match prospects at MSI look a little grim.

Prediction

If T1 want to declare themselves serious contenders to the title, then it all starts with a commanding win against CTBC Flying Oyster. Expect T1 to come out of the gate locked in and fired up as they look to take the quick 3-0 victory.

As the most one-sided match of the round, 93% of the Strafe fan votes believe T1 will take the win.

Don't Miss the Action!

Catch all of the playoffs action at MSI 2025 on the official Twitch and YouTube channels for Riot Games. Watch the best League of Legends teams in the world take each other on, starting Tuesday, July 1st, at 5 pm PT/2 am CET!

Check out the complete bracket for a look at the schedule for all opening matches.

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: Liu YiCun/Riot Games

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