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Top 5 Mid Laners at Worlds 2025: Does Faker Make the Cut?
Worlds 2025 is finally here, and the time has come to complete our final list of top players. As always, this list will be a reflection on these players' current form, capacity to perform under pressure, influence on their teams, champion pools, and Worlds meta affinity.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five best Mid Laners at Worlds 2025.
5. Zeka (HLE)
There's no denying it, Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo has had his ups and downs. Whether you're talking career-wise or simply throughout this specific year, Zeka has shown the highest of highs, but also some rather low lows.
That said, Zeka's form did ramp up at the LCK Playoffs in the build-up to Worlds. Throughout the playoffs, Zeka was the top ranked Mid Laner for kills per game (5.1), KDA (6.6), gold per minute (440), and kill participation (73.3%), demonstrating what a difference maker he can really be when he's on.
*Shoutout to HongQ from CTBC Flying Oyster, a player who came very close to making it onto this list despite playing against weaker opposition throughout the year.
4. Faker (T1)
For the five-time World Champion, the game isn't about solo killing his lane opponent or outplaying the opposition with every move anymore. Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok may not be the mechanical menace he once was, but he continues to remain relevant as ever due to his leadership, shotcalling, and ability to make clutch plays when T1 needs them the most.
An incredible 12 years into his career, Faker continues to prove how influential he is on his team after earning back-to-back Worlds titles in 2023 and 2024. His last trophy on this stage required some unbelievable heroics on his part, and it will be interesting to see whether T1 can show up big at Worlds 2025 without the need for Faker to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
3. BDD (KT)
If KT Rolster managed to snatch the #3 LCK seed at Worlds for themselves, forcing T1 to battle Invictus Gaming in the Play-In Stage in the process, that is largely thanks to Gwak "Bdd" Bo-seong in the Mid Lane.
Nearing the 10-year mark since his LCK debut, BDD has been on an absolute tear lately. While he may not be the world's sharpest laner, his partnership with Cuzz in the Jungle is consistently able to find the right angles to set KT up for success in their games.
Perhaps BDD's biggest asset coming into Worlds 2025, though, is the fact that he can find ways to excel on just about any champion imaginable; something which will no doubt prove useful for KT with Fearless Draft in full effect at Worlds. At the LCK Playoffs, for instance, BDD was able to put up true carry performances on picks like Zoe and Lissandra; two champions that hardly get picked at the highest level anymore.
2. knight (BLG)
Bilibili Gaming weren't quite their old dominant selves during the first half of the year, but Zhuo "knight" Ding and the rest of the squad are turning it up when it matters most. An MSI champion, x6 LPL Champions, and x6 LPL Finals MVP, knight has no shortage of accolades.
Or does he? Despite being widely considered the greatest Chinese Mid Laner of all time, knight has never managed to lift a Worlds trophy. After a close second-place finish last year, knight will do everything in his power to take BLG to the title this time around.
A player that has outstanding mechanics, on-point decision making, a champion pool the size of the Pacific Ocean, and experience for days, knight is simply the complete package.
1. Chovy (Gen.G)
Mr. Lane Kingdom himself. For what feels like the hundredth time in a row, Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon arrives at Worlds 2025 as the best Mid Laner at the tournament, and quite possible the best player overall. Like knight, though, Chovy has famously never won Worlds. And yet, this might be Chovy's best shot at doing so.
The current Gen.G squad is packed to the brim with talent, and is in hot form coming into Worlds 2025. Despite missing First Stand at the start of the year, Gen.G locked in to win back-to-back international titles at MSI and the Esports World Cup. Now, after winning the 2025 LCK Season, the team arrives at Worlds with three consecutive trophies under their belts, and will be hungry to seize the biggest trophy of all to cap off a year for the history books.
As a player, Chovy is about as close to perfection as it gets. He simply doesn't lose lane and can always be relied upon. Worlds, however, is where the magic happens, and it's time for Chovy to show he's got a wand up his sleeve.
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Featured image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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