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In a stunning turn of events, JD Gaming, who were esports betting sites favourites for the League of Legends Worlds 2023, have been sent packing by none other than T1 in an enthralling semi-final.
T1’s 3-1 victory means that fans in attendance will have a home team to rally behind in the big show next weekend as the LCK second-seed gears up for their final showdown on Sunday, chasing the coveted Summoner’s Cup.
This marks T1’s sixth appearance in the LoL Worlds final, with the illustrious Korean organization striving for its fourth major trophy since its inception over a decade ago, originally as SK Telecom T1.
WELCOME TO THE #WORLDS2023 FINAL, @T1LOL! pic.twitter.com/v526lddmYx
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) November 12, 2023
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, a legend in his own right, played a sublime role in T1’s victory over JDG, showcasing his prowess on the virtual battlefield.
T1’s top laner, Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, expressed his determination on stage, referencing last year’s heartbreaking loss in the Worlds final against DRX.
The team took DRX to five games but fell short of securing victory.
This time, facing their fourth consecutive LPL team, T1 is set to clash with Weibo Gaming in the final after their victory over Bilibili Gaming in the first semi-final.
T1’s monumental run at their home Worlds required them to overcome every LPL seed, and JDG proved to be their toughest challenge yet as the LPL’s top seed.
However, T1 threatened to conclude the series early after a dominant performance in the opener, but JDG fought back, resetting the momentum in an intense battle.
Ryu “Keria” Min-seok’s exceptional performance on Renata in game three, combined with Faker’s incredible Azir plays, turned the tide in T1’s favour.
The home crowd’s support played a crucial role as T1 secured back-to-back game-turning team fights at Dragon, sealing their victory over the LPL top seed and earning them a spot in the final.
The viewership for T1’s triumph reached an impressive 4,308,901, making it the second-highest viewership for a League of Legends professional series in history, according to Esports Charts.
The stage is set for the ultimate League series, and T1’s journey will culminate in a showdown against Weibo Gaming in the Worlds 2023 grand final.
