T1 survive first Worlds 2025 hurdle after winning IG Play-In battle

T1 has kept the dream of a third straight LoL Worlds title alive after defeating Invictus Gaming 3-1 in their Play-In clash at the Beijing JD Esports Center on Tuesday.

After banking the victory, which earns them a berth in the Swiss Stage, T1 was priced at +350 by esports betting sites to win LoL Worlds 2025, behind Gen.G (+100) and Hanwha Life Esports (+300).

For IG it is the end of their LoL Worlds 2025 campaign and a disappointing result for the four seeded LPL team, who are ranked 12th in the Global Power Rankings.

With this Play-In battle between two powerhouses, that feature seven World Championships and three Mid-Season Invitationals, one of the most anticipated early tourney matches of all time, it certainly live up to the hype.

T1 eventually just proved too powerful for the LPL outfit, with their superior objective control and team coordination on point. The Korean powerhouse amassed 85 kills to IG’s 58, while securing 25 towers, three inhibitors, and had complete control despite losing game 2.

T1’s jungler Oner and veteran mid-laner Faker orchestrated the pace, combining for 44 and 32 assists respectively, while Gumayusi’s stellar performance on the bot lane delivered 27 kills and a remarkable game-best 919 damage per minute. Their synergy enabled T1 to secure nine dragons and both Baron Nashors, turning every neutral objective into a springboard for map pressure.

Although Invictus found openings through TheShy’s aggressive play (10/21/13) and Rookie’s impressive 819 DPM, they struggled to translate individual skirmishes into structural gains, claiming only 17 towers and two inhibitors. IG’s inability to contest late-game objectives proved costly, as T1’s scaling and macro play gradually suffocated their options.

By the final push, T1’s coordination and superior vision control left IG outmaneuvered. The win not only underscored T1’s dominance in the Play-In stage but also reaffirmed their readiness to challenge the world’s best as the tournament progresses.

T1 (-357.14) will now clash with the Bwipo-lead FlyQuest (+245) in their first match of the Swiss Stage, with the Korean outfit heavy favourites.