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T1 Triumphs Over Invictus Gaming in Record-Breaking Worlds 2025 Play-In Series
In a Worlds Play-In Series like no other before, two titans – T1 and Invictus Gaming – clashed to kickstart Worlds 2025. While both teams qualified for the tournament, only one could continue their journey to the Swiss Stage and beyond. After a lengthy series, T1 succeeded in defeating IG in an electrifying Game 4 to close out the win, securing themselves a berth in the Swiss Stage.
The Bo5 match was highly anticipated and delivered in all aspects. Which makes it all the more of a shame that IG will not be present for the remaining games of Worlds 2025.
Grand Finals Worthy Matchup
It’s surreal to think that a part of the Worlds competition (the Play-Ins), normally filled with quieter competition, would this time play host to such an explosive start. The T1-IG series went the distance, going all the way to Game 4 before a winner was decided. Despite the incredible back and forth between both teams, T1 simply made fewer mistakes.
The series also set a new benchmark with the highest opening-day peak viewership in Worlds history with over 2.5 million, which comes as little surprise given the nameplates within the server today. The previous record for Play-Ins had been set the year before in 2024, with 1.4 million.
Two Teams That Defined Eras
The storylines between these two organizations, teams, and players could not be more poetic. T1, an organization that represents the early years of LCK domination with their triple Worlds titles under the SKT brand. And Invictus Gaming, the team that brought victory to a then crownless region (the LPL) and broke the era of Korean dominance.
At the center of it all, we had the long-awaited, fated matchup between Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and Song “Rookie” Eui-jin. Despite both their lengthy careers, they had never faced one another in a Bo5 series until today.
Both Mid Laners delivered today with Rookie as IG’s best performer and Faker only edged out by Gumayusi, proving their experience and veteran quality once more on the Worlds stage.
Despite their loss today, IG can take some comfort in the small successes they've earned throughout 2025. A far more promising domestic showing and a Worlds appearance for the first time since 2019. This may not have been their year in the end, but there's always the next year.
A Triple Worlds Contender Is in the Cards
SKT was the first team to ever win Worlds back-to-back. Last year, T1 repeated that performance with their victory over BLG in the Grand Finals. With their win now over IG, they’ve qualified for the Swiss Stage, where the other 15 teams await to begin. While it is still early days to call anything, the dream for a third consecutive Worlds title remains on the table for T1.
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Featured Image Credit: Liu YiCun/Riot Games
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