Worlds 2022: T1 is in the final

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In a more than exciting semi-final, record world champion T1 defeats Chinese rival and LPL champion JDG. At first, however, it didn’t look like a triumph for the Korean juggernaut.

2017 was the year Lee “Faker” Sang-heyok last competed in the League of Legends World Championship finals. On the way to his fourth Worlds title, the supposed LoL GOAT once again faced Samsung Galaxy, who T1, then known as SKT, defeated 3-2 in a hard-fought final a year earlier. However, instead of building on past success in 2017, things turned out differently than probably everyone involved would have guessed.

Instead of going toe-to-toe, the SSG players made short work of the record-breaking world champions, claiming the world title for the first time in the organisation’s history. Due to internal restructuring, it was to remain the only one – in the meantime, SSG, after a short guest appearance under the name KSV eSports, is known as GEN G and could enter the League of Legends World Championship final for the second time after 2017 this Sunday against DRX. Here, however, the teams will be up against none other than Faker himself.

T1 with starting difficulties

The eagerly awaited semi-final first started with a big bummer for all LCK as well as T1 fans. Although the Korean team came up with an interesting draft, especially Galio on Faker provided for some puzzled looks, the Koreans did not manage to play to their full strength and had to admit defeat to JDG at first narrowly but finally clearly. Mid Laner Zeng “Yagao” Qi and his teammates secured one objective after another, forcing T1 to make risky moves. Although the Koreans managed to secure the Baron in the meantime, it was the Elder Drake that doomed the three-time world champion in the end. With a 1-0 lead for JDG, they accordingly went into the first break of the evening.

Ryze on Faker, Zeus with Yone

Although Faker is arguably the best League of Legends player in T1’s line-up, it was the clash of the top laners that pundits and fans were most looking forward to in the run-up. Bai “369″ Jia-Hao from JDG and Choi “Zeus” Woo-je from T1 are currently considered the two best players in League of Legends here. While 369  was able to clearly prevail over his opponent in the first round on Jax, Zeus‘ Yone pick marked a turning point in the ongoing duel between the two star players. From then on, the Korean would not allow himself to put his rival under permanent pressure – not even in team fights. Although 369 on Malphite clearly had better engage in terms of group skirmishes, the latter never fully managed to establish a clear advantage for JD Gaming.

Adding to that Faker on Ryze and thanks to the latter’s ultimate skill, the Realmwarp, he was always able to cause trouble in the ranks of the LPL representative. But also Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, who did so much damage on Lucian that JDG felt compelled to ban the AD Carry in the fourth game. After 33 minutes, the spook was finally over and T1 evened the score.

Ryze- & Lucian spell as well as an overpowering Varus

After Gumyusi already provided immensely high damage in the second game on Lucian, it was the third game in which his influence had been clearly felt. Once again, the bot laner got his hands on the ADC and provided kills without end. But also in the Mid Lane Faker  turned up the heat. Once again on Ryze, the Korean secured kill after kill, but also knew how to use the realmwarp for split pushes and objectives. Together with Gumayusi Faker came to a total of 14 kills here.

This was not to change in the fourth and final set-up of the evening, although on JDG’s side they were now responding to permanent pick Lucian. So instead of acting on Senna’s better half, T1’s bot Laner unceremoniously chose Varus, which in the end turned out to be spot on. Together with Ryu “Keria” Min-seok’s Renata Glasc, the ADC cut through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter. In addition, Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun on Viego also delivered an unprecedented performance!

By far the shortest match came to an end after less than 25 minutes, in the course of which the Koreans secured Baron as well as Drake Soul, while JDG only took two Turrets. Accordingly, T1 is now deservedly in the League of Legends World Championship grand final for the fifth time and will face either GEN G or DRX.