Earthquake at the 2025 World Championship

Chovy disappointed by being "invisible" in a crucial match. Photo: LOL Esports .

On the afternoon of November 1st in Shanghai, the first semi-final match of the 2025 League of Legends World Championship took place between two Korean teams, GenG and KT. GenG boasted an all-star lineup, dubbed a "Super Team" with top-tier players in their respective positions. Chovy remained the brightest star, still on his quest for his first Worlds title despite his exceptional performances over the years.

On the other side of the battlefield, KT arrived at the World Championship with a roster that wasn't highly rated. Each position on their team lacked consistency throughout the season. They had also only assembled their team at the beginning of the year. Perfect and Peter were still in the early years of their careers, with virtually no international experience. Securing a spot at the World Championship was considered a miracle for the organization. KT's only asset was a recent victory against GenG in the Korean qualifiers. That performance also served as their ticket to China.

BDD had his most successful season after many years of professional competition. Photo: LOL Esports.

However, the events of the four games in Shanghai stunned fans and experts alike. KT demonstrated superior form and preparation compared to their opponents. From the very first game, the third-ranked Korean team made a surprising draft pick, picking Yone in the mid lane. In each set, the organization's coaching staff consistently held the lead over GenG. Throughout the match, all five KT members displayed high performance, dominating their lane opponents. BDD in the mid lane remained a reliable anchor, not only playing well but also outplaying Chovy, widely considered the world's most skilled player.

Ultimately, KT defeated the top seed from South Korea with a score of 3:1. This makes them the first representative to qualify for the 2025 World Championship in Chengdu. Their opponent will be decided tomorrow when Faker's T1 faces TES from the host country. The South Korean team is considered the favorite. However, with the unpredictable nature of this year's World Championship, surprises are still possible as the strong teams have all been eliminated. Currently, there are no remaining top seeds from any region. KT and TES are the third seeds, while T1 secured their spot from South Korea.

The League of Legends World Championship 2025 will take place from October 14th to November 9th in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, China. This is the third time the country with the world's largest population has hosted the event, following 2017 and 2020. T1 is the reigning world champion for two consecutive years.