T1's Dynasty: Reliving the Epic 2025 LoL Esports Season
December 12, 2025 – As the dust settles on another thrilling year in League of Legends esports, one team stands above all: T1. With their unprecedented three-peat at Worlds 2025, Faker and crew have etched their names deeper into history. From revolutionary format changes to jaw-dropping upsets and roster shakeups, 2025 was a year of evolution, dominance, and heartbreak. Let's dive into the highlights, stats, and what's next for the Summoner's Cup chase.
A New Era: The 2025 Format Overhaul
Riot Games kicked off 2025 with seismic shifts to make LoL esports more competitive and sustainable. Key changes included:
- Consolidation into five Tier 1 leagues: LCS, LLA, and CBLOL merged into the Americas League (LTA) with North and South conferences; VCS, PCS, LJL, and LCO formed the Asia-Pacific (LCP) league.
- Three-split structure: Each region now runs Split 1, 2, and 3, qualifying for three international majors.
- Fearless Draft: Champions can't be repeated in a series – a game-changer that rewarded versatility and shook up metas.
The season opener? First Stand (March 10-16, Seoul), where Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) triumphed, earning an MSI bye. MSI 2025 lit up Vancouver (June 27-July 12), while Worlds 2025 returned to China (Beijing/Shanghai/Chengdu, Oct 14-Nov 9), peaking at 6.7 million viewers – the highest of any esports event in 2025.
Worlds 2025: T1's Historic Three-Peat
The crown jewel was Worlds, where T1 defeated KT Rolster 3-2 in a nail-biting Grand Final – the "greatest Telecom War" ever. Faker claimed his sixth Summoner's Cup, and ADC Gumayusi earned Finals MVP as the first bot laner since 2017.
| Stage | Key Matchups | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Play-In/Swiss | T1 def. IG (Play-In), HLE strong run | Upsets galore; LCK/LPL dominate. |
| Quarters | T1 3-2 AL, TES revenge on BLG | TES 2-1 BLG after LPL Finals loss. |
| Semis | T1 3-0 TES | T1's "miracle run" from low seeds. |
| Finals | T1 3-2 KT | 18k fans in Chengdu; Uzi hands MVP to Gumayusi. |
T1's core – Faker, Oner, Keria, Gumayusi – joined the elite three-time winners club. Viewership smashed records: 3.77M peak on YouTube alone.
Regional Powerhouses and Standout Stars
- LCK: Gen.G topped the single-season standings, beating HLE 3-1 in Finals. T1 and KT were lower seeds but peaked at Worlds.
- LPL: BLG and TES battled fiercely; early exits at Worlds stung.
- LEC/LTA/LCP: Western/americas teams showed fight (G2, FlyQuest, Vivo Keyd), but Asia ruled.
Top Players of 2025 (via Sheep Esports rankings):
| Rank | Player | Team | Why They Shone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chovy | GEN | Near-perfect (234/240 points); mid-lane god. |
| - | Faker | T1 | 6x Worlds champ; eternal GOAT. |
| - | Gumayusi | T1 | Worlds MVP; clutch carries. |
| - | Kiin | GEN | Untouchable top laner. |
| - | Knight | BLG | Strategic beast. |
Others like Canyon, Bin, and Keria dominated polls.
Roster Mania and Controversies
Offseason exploded:
- Gumayusi leaves T1 for HLE after 7 years/3 Worlds.
- TheShy takes 2026 break from IG after Play-In exit.
- Scandals: Bwipo's sexist remarks; FPX's Milkyway permabanned for matchfixing.
LTA dissolved: LCS/CBLOL return in 2026.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
- First Stand 2026: Brazil (passionate crowds incoming!).
- MSI 2026: Seoul, Korea.
- Worlds 2026: North America (US: Texas/NYC).
LoL remains esports royalty – Discord's #1 game of 2025. With T1's legacy secured, the question is: Who dethrones them? Tune into lolesports.com for the ride.
What was your favorite 2025 moment? Drop it below – GGWP! ????