T1 and KT Rolster Face Off in Historic Worlds Finals Showdown

Chengdu, China – T1 and KT Rolster, two of the top teams in League of Legends, are set to clash in the 2025 World Championship Finals on Friday. This highly anticipated matchup marks the first all-Korean finals since 2022, as both teams look to establish dominance in the global esports arena.

T1, led by the legendary player Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, entered the tournament as the lowest seed among LCK teams. After an uphill battle beginning in the play-in stage, T1 faced a rocky start in the Swiss Stage, suffering losses against Taiwan’s CTBC Flying Oyster and fellow Korean powerhouse Gen.G. A comeback was in the works as T1 secured crucial wins over the US’ 100 Thieves and Spain’s Movistar KOI, ultimately ending the Swiss Stage with a 3-2 record and moving on to the Knockout Stage.

In the quarterfinals, T1 narrowly defeated China’s Anyone's Legend in a gripping five-game series. They then starkly dominated Chinese giant Top Esports with a decisive 3-0 in the semifinals, making it to the finals for the third consecutive year and aiming for an unprecedented three-peat.

KT Rolster had their own unique journey, starting as the LCK’s third seed. They stormed through the Swiss Stage with a flawless 3-0 record, becoming the first team this year to achieve such a feat. KT then overcame CTBC Flying Oyster with another 3-0 sweep in the quarterfinals and pulled off an upset against top-seed Gen.G with a 3-1 victory, reaching the finals for the first time in 13 years.

The finals, branded the Telecom Derby, pits T1, backed by SK Telecom, against KT Rolster, sponsored by KT, two leading Korean telecom companies. Historically, T1 has held an advantage over KT, winning 26 out of 32 official matches since 2020. However, there are signs of a shift in momentum.

A Riot Games official mentioned, “KT Rolster is on such an upward trajectory that its past head-to-head record no longer seems to matter.” They also highlighted that KT has the highest win rate among all teams this World Championship, achieving an impressive set win rate of 90.9 percent.

However, KT’s strategy may be predictable, often emphasizing early dragon prioritization tactics. Veteran teams like T1 could exploit possible weaknesses in this approach. Adding to KT’s challenge is the pressure of their first World Finals appearance, which may put their nerves to the test, unlike T1, who have five titles to their name.

As the countdown to the finals begins, all eyes are on the strategies and performances of both teams, promising an exciting climax to this year’s championship.