MSI 2025: GenG Esports Versus T1 The Promised LCK Final Delivered

Draft

T1 – Blue Side

• B1 – Taliyah
• R1+R2 – Rumble+Ryze
• B2+B3 – Lucian+Braum
• R3 – Skarner
• R4 – Rell
• B4+B5 – Jarvan IV+Ornn
• R5 – Ezreal

Summary

Oner’s invade on Canyon works until Faker overpushes and gives First Blood to Chovy. GenG thought they had a chance to contest the first Drake, but they lost four members and the objective. Then it is T1’s turn to take an unnecessary fight and lose three members. In the second Drake fight, Duro gets caught, but GenG still looks to fight.

T1 clean up GenG twice to secure the Drake and the Rift Herald to break open the game. GenG refuses to give an objective for free, and they fall further behind. GenG is first on the Atakhan, but they lose three and the objective. With the setup on the Hextech Soul fight, T1 catches GenG on the approach to get their soul. The Baron goes to the LCK second seed, and they push to end the game.

Game Three

Draft

GenG – Blue Side

• B1 – Pantheon
• R1+R2 – Sion+Viktor
• B2+B3 – Galio+K’Sante
• R3 – Xin Zhao
• R4 – Miss Fortune
• B4+B5 – Senna+Alistar
• R5 – Bard

Summary

The teams exchange blows in the early game, but there is no first blood. T1 starts with the first Drake and three Grubs. GenG prevents Drake stacking. The action is minimal in the mid-game. Doran dies for First Blood at 20 minutes. GenG survives the engagement on their Mountain soul point fight to break open the game. No action occurs until T1 forces Atakhan. Oner wins the smite battle, but they lose the fight; the Baron and GenG get Mountain Soul. GenG eventually finds the end and moves to match point.

Game Four

Draft

T1 – Blue Side

• B1 – Corki
• R1+R2 – Kalista+Poppy
• B2+B3 – Nocturne+Orianna
• R3 – Renata Glasc
• R4 – Ahri
• B4+B5 – Karma+Gragas
• R5 – Zed

Summary

The 0-9 Kalista gets the First Blood. For the first game, GenG gets the first Drake in the series. On the level six power spikes, Canyon and Ruler pick up a kill each. On the second Drake, T1 manages to find Chovy and denies the Drake stacking. Oner punishes Canyon for using his shadow, and he gets the Rift Herald. Better positioning allows T1 to move to the soul point. The Atakhan fight is a 1-for-1 trade of the top laners, with Canyon winning the smite battle.

GenG draws them to the Baron, and Oner goes too early, allowing GenG to get the objective, two kills, and deny the Ocean Soul. Doran gets killed to allow GenG to also move to the soul point. The second Baron is GenG’s once again, with Doran and Kiin dying. The Ocean Soul is also in the hands of GenG, but they die in the extended fight, only killing Doran. The game continues until the third Baron. Kiin is the first to die, and the rest of GenG follows. We are heading to Silver Scrapes.

Game Five

Draft

GenG – Blue Side

• B1 – Aurora
• R1+R2 – Lee Sin+Sylas
• B2+B3 – Nidalee+Renekton
• R3 – Ambessa
• R4 – Draven
• B4+B5 – Jinx+Tahm Kench
• R5 – Pyke

Summary

Oner finds the early kill on Nidalee and uses it to unlock the map. Both teams dive the enemy top laners. T1 kills Kiin, while Doran survives and kills Duro. The kill on Kiin goes to Gumayusi for the cashout. The gold lead does not grow beyond 3k. Ruler steals the second Drake to slow down the Drake stacking.

Doran engages too far, allowing Ruler to Get Excited and kill Oner. The lead evaporates, and GenG starts Atakhan. Ruler kills Oner and Faker, allowing the LCK first seed to secure Atakhan and Baron. T1 collapses on Chovy to get more gold for Gumayusi. A desperation dive onto Ruler fails, and Doran dies. GenG pushes down the mid lane to end the game and move to the Grand Final.

Reaction

Many expected this series to be the best of the tournament. It delivered in all aspects, with the LCK teams tearing each other apart. Game four was an encapsulation of why they are two of the best teams in the world. Neither team gave up anything for free. GenG advances to the Grand Finals, while T1 awaits in the Lower Bracket final for the winner between Anyone’s Legend and Bilibili Gaming.