The 2025 Mid Season Invitational just witnessed one of the most iconic series in League of Legends history. Two titans from the LCK, Gen.G and T1, faced off in the Upper Bracket Final in a best of five battle that had fans on edge for over three hours. This was not just another chapter in their storied rivalry, it was the most dramatic one yet. Every game went beyond the 29 minute mark, filled with tense stand offs, low kill counts, and strategic plays that pushed both squads to their limits.
Gen.G came into MSI 2025 on a hot streak, riding a 21 series win record that began earlier this year. They had dismantled every domestic and international team on their way to the top. T1, on the other hand, entered the tournament as reigning world champions but with a few doubts surrounding their recent domestic form. However, any questions about T1’s hunger were erased after they clean swept Bilibili Gaming and looked stronger than ever.
Game one set the tone with both teams playing cautiously, aware of how much was at stake. The breakthrough finally came with a perfectly timed Baron fight where Ruler cleaned house and marched midlane to destroy T1’s Nexus. Game two flipped the narrative completely. T1, led by
Oner’s aggressive Jarvan IV and Gumayusi’s high damage Lucian, turned every skirmish into a win and shut down Gen.G with a dominant performance.
Game three slowed things down considerably. No kills for 20 minutes reflected just how afraid both teams were of giving away a single mistake. But Gen.G once again found an opening. Chovy and Ruler stepped up and maintained deathless scorelines as they gradually squeezed T1 out of the game. That win put Gen.G ahead 2 1, but the series was far from over.
T1 returned with renewed resolve in game four. Doran’s Gragas engaged flawlessly, allowing Faker and Gumayusi to shine in late game fights. A clean ace in the final moments gave them the time they needed to crack Gen.G’s base and take it to a fifth game. The final match, although slower in pace, saw Gen.G strike back with textbook control. Ruler’s Jinx was untouched and lethal, ending with a perfect score as Gen.G secured the win and the series.
What made this series unforgettable was not just the quality of gameplay but how evenly matched the teams were at every turn. Both respected each other’s strengths. Both feared the slightest misstep. And yet Gen.G’s consistency, decision making, and Ruler’s late game presence gave them the edge that mattered most.
With this win, Gen.G has punched their ticket straight into the Grand Final of MSI 2025 and are now just one step away from qualifying early for Worlds 2025. T1, however, is not done yet. They now drop into the Lower Bracket Final and will face either Anyone’s Legend or Bilibili Gaming for one more shot at redemption. Given their dominant performance earlier in the tournament, T1’s path is still very much alive. But Gen.G has officially claimed the upper hand in their ongoing rivalry at least for now.
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