T1 survive almighty scare to set up Gen.G clash

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 10/09/2025

T1 defeated Dplus 3-2 in a back-and-forth series in the first round of the LCK 2025 Playoffs. The victory sets up an Upper Semis clash with Gen.G, who qualified directly to Round 2 as group winners.

Dplus had qualified to Playoffs through the play-in bracket, having started the split in the Rise Group. Yet, the team’s strong form showed as they pushed T1 to their limit at LoL Park.

How the series unfolded: Faker Akali

T1 and Dplus wrestled control of the series back and forth, with Dplus taking Game 1 before T1 fought back to equalise the series.

T1 took the lead after Game 3, with Faker picking Akali for the first time in a pro game since mid-June.

Despite not playing the hero regularly, Faker put on a classic display in mid, going 6-1-8 over the game, which put T1, the huge betting odds favourites, in control of the series.

The scriptwriters weren’t finished yet, as Dplus swung the series back as Heo ‘ShowMaker’ Su lived up to his name in Game 4.

T1 fans were truly worried as a poor start put T1 0-3 behind on kills, but T1’s strategic gameplay ground them back into the match.

A pattern emerged of T1 gaining control of objectives through damage in teamfights, never quite vanquishing Dplus but grinding them down.

In the end, T1 had secured three dragons, Atakhan, and Baron, giving them an unassailable damage output as they finally put Dplus to the sword.

Gen.G vs T1 set for clash

The result puts Dplus in the lower bracket, needing to finish Top 4, or likely Top 3 if Gen.G make Top 3, to make Worlds.

Meanwhile, T1 will face Gen.G in Round 2 after Gen.G defeated T1 in the final week of the regular season, condemning T1 to start in Round 1 of the LCK playoffs.

T1 ended Gen.G’s unbeaten streak in their first matchup of the Summer split; however, usurping them in the playoffs may prove a different beast, with Gen.G taking their last two contests.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

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