LCK 2025: A Fabled Battle In the Lower Bracket

T1 and GenG have met each other multiple times in the Grand Finals of LCK tournaments. They even faced off twice during the MSI this year, in the Upper Bracket Final and Grand Final. GenG won both with a 3-2 scoreline. GenG has emerged victorious more often than not in recent times against T1. They now meet in the Lower Bracket Semi-Final, fighting to stay alive in the LCK Playoffs and improve their seeding for the World Championship.

LCK 2025: GenG Esports Versus T1 Start Times

The storied LCK rivals begin their battle at 11:00 PM PT (8:00 AM CET September 21st). Which giant will be relegated to the Play-In stage at the World Championship?

GenG Esports Versus T1 Recent Match History and Head-To-Head

GenG has come across T1 on eight occasions this year. In six of those, they emerged victorious. T1 has managed to take a game in all but one of those losses this year. T1’s wins came in Bo3s, once during the LCK Cup and once in the LCK regular season. The two Bo5s between the teams occurred at MSI, which GenG won 3-2 both times.

GenG has only played one series in the Playoffs so far. They lost 3-2 to KT Rolster in a shock defeat. T1, on the other hand, has had to play three series to get to this point. They faced DK twice, of which they won 3-2 and 3-1, respectively. Their other match was against HLE, which they lost 3-0.

World Championship Oner Has Struck Early

After a disappointing end to the regular season and a disastrous performance against HLE, Oner turned a corner. He almost single-handedly carried T1 to a 3-1 victory over DK. Even in the one loss, he was the best T1 player on the rift. With Canyon faltering in GenG’s series against KT, it might be the time for Oner to carry once again. If both junglers maintain the same form from their recent series, GenG will be in serious trouble.

Can GenG Bounce Back?

GenG has rarely been a team to be knocked down to the Lower Bracket of Playoffs. Their only losses in Bo5s have been in Grand Finals or the World Championship in the past two years. We have not seen what happens in this situation. However, they have lost series during the regular season in past years. KT and BRO have been causes of those losses. Whenever they did lose, they responded dominantly, running over their opponents. They face a difficult test against a rejuvenated T1.

GenG Versus T1 Predictions

GenG 3-2 T1

GenG is bound to bounce back in this series. They are the type of team to become stronger than initially expected to be before their loss to KT. T1 is also on the rise after their loss to HLE. The series should not be a dominant win for either team, and if both strike top form, it could become one of the best series of 2025.

A Poor Result for LPL

Regardless of who loses this series, they should be favored in the World Championship Play-In against the LPL 4th seed. T1 has never lost a Bo5 series against an LPL team at the World Championship, and GenG is not a team you want to face in an elimination series. The winner will qualify for the Swiss Stage at the World Championship and move on to the Inspire Arena in Incheon to face off against KT in the Lower Bracket Final.