A new chapter in the history of the League of Legends World Championship has just been written. T1 have handed the LPL their 12th defeat in 13 years of Worlds competition, maintaining their incredible record. Their victim this time was none other than Anyone’s Legend, widely regarded as the best LPL team in the tournament, who fell 2–3 to the greatest organization in LoL history. T1 will now face Top Esports on Sunday, November 2.

Once again, T1 live up to their standards. In ten Worlds appearances, they have never been eliminated before the semifinals. They continue to carry the most thrilling storylines of the competition on their shoulders — and the same stat holds for Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.

A final in quarters

This quarterfinal will go down as one of the most memorable in League of Legends history. It’s hard to come down from a match with such intensity. Even from a viewer’s perspective, this series had all the ingredients of a grand final — both in terms of gameplay and emotion. The energy at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai proved it, erupting at every spectacular move pulled off by the ten heroes who clashed on Summoner’s Rift.

Each game came down to a flash, a steal, a single teamfight detail, a positioning choice, or a tiny decision that tipped the balance one way or the other. This quarterfinal will be remembered for how far both teams were pushed to their limits.

As in recent years, Faker fully embraced his legendary status at the perfect timing, showing what might be his best form of the season. Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong also emerged as a key hero of the series, especially in the final two games. But another player who truly impressed was Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon, often criticized throughout the LCK season, who delivered a spectacular duel against Li "Flandre" Xuanjun.

There was also a fierce battle between the junglers, as Lee “Tarzan” Seung-yong put on a commanding display in his signature playmaking style, while Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun responded with his trademark reliability, locking down objectives and consistently supporting his teammates in reaction to Tarzan’s plays. The only weakness AL showed was their botlane, which appeared overwhelmed by the moment. Wang “Hope” Jie, in particular, was the only player who failed to shine, unable to step up as the team’s carry.

Stats don't lie

As Anyone’s Legend’s season comes to an end, T1 can now look ahead to facing Top Esports on Sunday, November 2 — this time as clear favorites. Although they had to reveal some of their draft strategies in a far tighter series than TES faced, the reigning world champions looked composed and confident. Moreover, history is on their side: Top Esports have never beaten an LCK team in a best-of-five series.