Hanwha Life Insurance and Gen.G Secure Spots in Quarterfinals Leaving T1 as Final Contender
Hanwha Life Insurance and Gen.G have secured their places in the quarterfinals of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship. T1 now stands as the last contender from the LCK, needing vital wins to advance.
Quarterfinals Overview
Both Hanwha Life Insurance and Gen.G advanced by defeating key rivals. They triumphed over CFO from the LCP and TES, a top team from the LPL, during the fourth round of the Swiss stage. This stage took place at the Beijing Smart e-Sports Center on the 22nd and 23rd of October.
Performance in the Swiss Stage
- Hanwha Life Insurance and Gen.G achieved records of three wins and one loss.
- KT Rolster remains unbeaten, having won all three of its matches.
- CFO and TES started strong, winning their initial rounds, but fell short against LCK teams.
Both Hanwha and Gen.G’s performances affirm the strength of the LCK in the championship. With this progress, there exists a possibility that all four LCK teams may reach the quarterfinals this year, mirroring their success in 2022.
T1’s Challenging Path
Defending champions T1 find themselves in a precarious situation. After a strong start against LTA’s Flyquest, their next two games resulted in just one victory paired with two losses. T1 now faces a must-win scenario to prevent a historic failure in not reaching the quarterfinals.
Upcoming Matches
T1 must secure victories in its upcoming matches. Their next challenge is against LTA’s 100 Thieves on October 24th. This team was previously able to attain a win against Bilibili Gaming but has struggled recently.
- Current record for T1: 1 win, 2 losses.
- Needed for T1: Consecutive wins in the fourth and fifth rounds.
If T1 doesn’t improve its strategic plays, including Ban pic strategies, their chances of advancing diminish. The fifth round, scheduled for October 25th, will be pivotal for T1’s tournament future.
General Landscape of the Championship
As of now, several teams, including CFO, Flyquest, TES, and Movistar Koy from LEC, are also vying for quarterfinal spots, posting records of 2 wins and 2 losses. T1, in its upcoming matches, will likely face one of these teams, heightening the stakes.
Overall, T1’s recent performance has raised concerns. However, historical data suggests they have been successful against Chinese teams in past tournaments. T1 must utilize the week following their third match on October 18th effectively to prepare and strategize before their critical contest against 100 Thieves.
