New Record Set: T1 Decimate Europe’s Best in 3 Game Series, Sets New Record

The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational 2023 continues to deliver an epic spectacle in the Bracket Stage. Yesterday, the second series of Round 1 was played, between the LEC 1st seed MAD Lions and the LCK 2nd seed T1 went the way of expectations. T1 ended the highly anticipated Bo5 series in 3 maps. During the final game of the series, T1 also managed to shatter a previous record. They ended the game in 16.47 minutes, making it the second fastest game completion at an international event in League of Legends history.

Record Broken

The fastest game ever completed at an international League of Legends event, however, still remains unbroken. Funnily enough, T1 also holds the record for it, but with a defeat. Back in MSI 2019, T1 lost to Invictus Gaming in 16.01 minutes. The shocking defeat at the hands of the most recent Worlds champions was a stark reminder of the power of the LPL.

After a gruelling first game and convincing second game, T1 were in prime position to close out the series. With MAD’s Kennen pick countered by the K’Sante answer from T1 in games 1 and 2, MAD finally answered by dropping the former and taking the latter out of T1’s hands. T1’s answer, was the Sion. That wasn’t the end as well, T1 pulled a trick from BDS’s playbook, pulling a four-man level 1 dive with the Sion onto MAD’s bot lane. From there, T1 snowballed their lead to victory with a series of great calls that continuously caught out MAD’s members.

Next Step

T1’s victory places them on a collision course for an LCK finals rematch against domestic rivals Gen.G. Their rematch has been scheduled on May 13th in the upper semifinals of MSI 2023. The winner of their match will advance to the finals of MSI 2023.

Moreover, G2 and MAD Lions will run a rematch of their LEC Spring Playoffs semifinals on the same day in the loser’s bracket side to stay alive in the tournament.

During that same series, "Faker" also celebrated his 200th international game, being the first player to do so. His decade-long career has shown clear fruit in his consistency and ability to make international events over the span of his career.

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest coverages on MSI 2023. Daily recaps on the event will keep you up to date on the latest victories and defeats.

Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games