T1 vs iG: LoL Worlds 2025 play-in preview and prediction

LoL Contributor

Publish Date: October 13, 2025

t1-vs-invictus-gaming-worlds-2025-prediction

The LoL Worlds Play-ins 2025 is here! This time, we’re kicking off the tournament with a blast. A T1 versus Invictus Gaming best-of-5. What can we expect from this match? Here are our LoL Worlds play-ins team previews and predictions.

LoL Worlds Play-ins teams previews

T1

T1 needs no introduction. Historically the best LoL team in the world, reigning over this game for over a decade. So why are they in play-ins? Why are they the LCK’s fourth seed?

Starting off by swapping their top laner for an unambiguous downgrade, T1’s 2025 season has not been kind. Doran and Gumayusi have been very inconsistent, and Faker is not the mechanically gifted player or strong laner that he used to be. He regularly falls behind in lane and hasn’t seemed to be able to comfortably match his Korean opponents anymore.

The team also has glaring champion pool issues, spearheaded by Guma’s and Faker’s weaknesses on many meta champions. These issues cause them to be very shaky in games 4 and 5 due to Fearless drafting.

That said, the inconsistent bot and top laners have high highs, and when they can channel those, they deliver great performances. Faker’s hands have weakened, but he’s remained just as much of an incredibly intelligent and calm player. One who doesn’t fall short in the important situations.

As for Oner and Keria, they’ve been stable pillars for the team to hold onto all year long. Having been among the best jungler and support in the world in 2025, they’re looking to once again be the foundation upon which T1 can build a victory.

Image Source: Liu YiCun / Riot Games

Invictus Gaming

After years of irrelevance, iG has gone all out to rebuild its star-filled roster that gave China its first trophy in 2018. Getting rid of the 2024 roster, the team is once again built around Rookie and TheShy. This time, they’re joined by Wei, GALA, and Meiko.

With that being said, Invictus Gaming suffers from the same issue as T1 is dealing with when it comes to Faker. A roster of long-standing big names whose hands are no longer at the level they once had.

TheShy is known for his mechanics and lane dominance. Wei, for finding crazy plays as a jungler. Rookie, for having been the best mid laner stuck on worse teams. Meiko, for being one of the smartest players with the swiftness to follow.

All of this remains true, except for the fact that none of these players’ mechanics have stood the test of time. Rookie is finally no longer a shining mid laner, Wei’s plays can falter because of his execution, Meiko has lost that part of his gameplay. TheShy, to be frank, is just the same TheShy – a player who can do great things. Including in the field of dying repeatedly for no reason.

GALA, on the other hand, has seen none of that decline. He’s a stellar ADC with no exploitable downside. He also boasts the best Kai’sa in the world, on which he’s gone 8-0 since May – and she’s at the heart of the current meta.

This team has also found great synergy. Even if the individual parts of iG aren’t what they used to be, they combine into something unusually fearsome for a group of carry players. And while mechanics are falling behind, every positive they’ve had remains there, and they can rally behind GALA.

Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games

Our 2025 LoL Worlds Play-Ins Prediction

Let’s not beat around the bush here. Everyone expects T1 to win this match.

First, T1 is at LoL Worlds. T1 is a whole other beast on the big stage. This team has never reached less than semifinals, and over nine showings, that’s not coincidence. This traces back to Faker: where many players are known to choke at the biggest tournament, he remains calm and cool, and scales as the event goes further.

Second, in comparison, T1 just look better. Rookie’s form has dropped further than Faker’s, and Doran’s inconsistencies are nowhere near TheShy’s. Wei looks shaky while Oner has been a rock for T1, and Keria has overtaken Meiko in the discussion for best support in the world.

But if iG are to stand a chance, it’ll be through the bot lane. With GALA as their star carry and a solid Meiko to follow, they can punch a hole through the weaknesses presented by Gumayusi. If the rest of the map doesn’t fall behind at the same time, iG can make a case for themselves.

But that’s a big if.

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