T1 vs IG Clash Opens 2025 League of Legends World Championship

2025-10-14

The 2025 League of Legends World Championship officially kicked off in Beijing with a high-intensity matchup between T1 from Korea's LCK and Invictus Gaming (IG) from China's LPL. The best-of-five Play-In series marks one of the most anticipated early battles in this year's tournament.

The event, running from October 14 to November 9, brings together the world's top teams for a month of fierce international competition. Both T1 and IG entered Worlds as their region's fourth seeds, fighting for a single spot in the Swiss Stage - the next phase of the championship.

This match reignited one of League's most iconic rivalries. T1, led by veteran mid-laner Faker, seeks another shot at a world title, while IG - featuring the legendary duo TheShy and Rookie - aims to reclaim the glory of its 2018 championship run.

Early rounds showed T1's strategic dominance, leveraging sharp jungle coordination from Oner and precise teamfight setups by Keria. IG countered with aggressive laning and early skirmishes, but struggled to maintain map control in later stages.

Analysts highlighted the mid-lane duel between Faker and Rookie as the defining matchup, with both veterans displaying world-class mechanics and discipline. Bookmakers had heavily favored T1 before the series, reflecting their recent international consistency.

Beyond the result, this opening clash set the emotional tone for Worlds 2025 - a tournament packed with history, redemption arcs, and the ongoing rivalry between the LCK and LPL.

The winner of T1 vs IG advances to the Swiss Stage, while the loser exits the championship. More group-stage matches continue through the end of October, with playoffs beginning in early November.