With a Korean team locked in for the MSI final, the LCK secures a fourth seed at Worlds 2025
Second team eliminated from this Mid-Season Invitational, and once again it's a European squad. After G2 Esports fell to FlyQuest, Movistar KOI are heading home following a 3-1 loss to the LCP champions, CTBC Flying Oyster. In the day’s second match, T1 completely dismantled Bilibili Gaming — a clean sweep from the reigning world champions, who now advance to the Upper Bracket Final against Gen.G. With a Korean team guaranteed in the MSI final, the LCK secures a fourth seed for Worlds 2025 in China.
After an impressive First Stand showing, CFO are now making an impressive MSI run, securing at least a 5th–6th place finish. Against KOI, the threat came from multiple angles: in Game 1, it was the young midlaner Tsai "HongQ" Ming-Hong on Azir who led the charge; in Game 2, CFO’s botlane took over, with Chiu "Doggo" Tzu-Chuan posting a dominant 10/0/8 Jhin performance alongside a Bard support — a pick that’s been quietly shining this MSI. KOI struck back in Game 3, thanks in part to a toplane Irelia countering Yorick, but CFO quickly regained control in Game 4. It was the tournament’s first Aphelios pick, and Doggo made it count — The Weapon of the Faithful came alive to close the series. A 3-1 win for CFO, who continue their run at MSI.
T1 on the international stage
They can struggle all they want in the LCK — once T1 hit the international stage, they’re always on another level. As two-time world champion AD carry Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong put it: “T1 are different at the international stage.” And it showed. In Game 1, T1 had full control over BLG. Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok’s unkillable Orianna soaked up tons of pressure, giving Gumayusi’s Jhin — one of the best in the world on the Virtuoso — all the room he needed to shine, ending the game with a flawless 5/0/15 and over 90% kill participation.
BLG struck back in Game 2, dominating for most of the match and punishing a T1 draft that needed time to scale. But T1 held on and turned things around — Gumayusi’s Caitlyn became unstoppable after her third item, and with Ornn upgrading everything, it was close, but T1 pulled through. In the final game, Ryu "Keria" Min-seok’s Alistar found crucial engages, and Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon’s Renekton flanks were a nightmare for BLG. T1 dominated the series from start to finish, never giving the LPL’s second seed a chance to breathe.
A short break before it resumes
MSI will take a one-day break — no matches will be played on July 6. The competition resumes on July 7 at 5 PM PST (July 8 at 2 AM CET for Europe), with CFO facing a much tougher opponent this time: LPL Champion Anyone's Legend. The following day at the same time, BLG will look to bounce back against FlyQuest. The highly anticipated clash between T1 and Gen.G is set for July 9 and will determine the first finalist of this MSI. Six best-of-fives remain before the tournament wraps up on July 12 with the grand final.
Header Photo Credit: Liu YiCun/Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games