Gen.G takes down T1 to reach the MSI 2025 Grand Finals

Welcome to the Upper Bracket Final of MSI 2025: T1 vs. Gen.G. These longtime rivals, who know each other inside and out, battled for a coveted spot in the Grand Finals. In this high-stakes best-of-five (Bo5) series, both teams were determined to prove they deserved that spot more than anyone else.

The loser of this match isn’t out just yet. They’ll drop to the Lower Bracket Final, where they’ll face the winner of Anyone's Legend vs. Bilibili Gaming for one last shot at reaching the Grand Finals.

You can watch the match between T1 and GEN right here. The stream is linked below. Don't forget to check out the schedule in various time zones. The tournament is happening in Vancouver, Canada.

You can find the T1 vs Gen.G match recaps here. Come back after the games to read about every key moment.

T1’s draft was powerful, stacked with comfort picks. Faker secured his iconic Azir, boasting an impressive 133 wins and 59 losses, while Gumayusi and Keria locked in their renowned Xayah and Rakan duo, a combination many had anticipated. Despite the strength of T1’s composition, Gen.G remained unfazed.

In an early skirmish around the Void Grubs, a misstep left Faker and Gumayusi out of position, resulting in both of them falling. Following the early fight, T1 managed to secure several key kills across the map, briefly swinging momentum in their favor. However, Gen.G had already built a significant lead and began capitalizing on the scaling issues and diminishing damage in T1’s composition.

Despite T1 pulling ahead at one point, a massive team fight in the bot lane proved decisive. Gen.G came out on top, seizing full control, and from there, the game was firmly theirs. T1's Athakan steal was not enough to regain control of the match.

An early gank in the mid lane gave Gen.G the upper hand in the second match, setting the pace early on. However, T1 responded with an incredibly well-coordinated fight around the first Drake, flipping the momentum in their favor. Gen.G didn’t back down and answered with a clean, well-timed play of their own.

Still, despite facing pressure from ganks and occasional missteps, T1 continued to dominate the Drake fights with flawless execution. Gen.G managed to find picks across the map, but it wasn’t enough. T1 held firm and closed out the game to even the series.

Gumayusi was a dominant force throughout the game, quickly becoming too strong for Gen.G to handle. Piloting Lucian with precision, he shattered the MSI 2025 record for most kills in a single game, racking up an impressive 14 kills.

The third match began with a brief delay due to a peripheral issue. Unlike the fast-paced early games of the previous matches, this one took on a much slower, more cautious tone, as if both teams were trying not to be the first to make a mistake.

No kills occurred until the 20:35 mark, when a fight broke out in T1’s jungle that didn’t go in their favor. As the game progressed, it became clear that T1's composition lacked the damage needed to break through Gen.G’s extremely tanky draft, making team fights increasingly difficult to navigate. Even with an Athakan steal, T1 didn't have enough damage to do anything. This was a Gen.G game.

Despite holding a dismal 0–9 record at MSI 2025, Kalista made a surprise return in Match 4, and the so-called “Kalista curse” struck again. Gen.G put their faith in the pick, even getting an ideal start with Ruler securing first blood, crucial for Kalista’s early-game power spike.

But T1 had other plans. In a chaotic yet masterfully executed team fight, they flipped the momentum entirely. Every movement from T1 was deliberate, precise, and calculated, turning the tide and securing the win to force a thrilling fifth and final match. This was also the strongest match of the day. Gumayusi was farming damage, ending with more than 65k damage.

Gen.G was getting some important kills here and there, but not enough to change the destiny of Match 4. When the match was getting better for Gen.G, Gumayusi just slammed four kills and ended the game.

The final game kicked off with an explosive start, as Oner secured a crucial early pick to give T1 the first kill. The early momentum seemed firmly in T1’s favor, with clean plays and map control. But Ruler and Chovy had other plans. They were laser-focused on securing the win.

A pivotal skirmish before the Drake allowed Ruler to scale rapidly, unleashing devastating damage in the ensuing team fight near the Athakan. Just when it looked like T1 was pulling ahead, Gen.G flipped the script, tearing through the lanes and seizing full control of the match. What a phenomenal series from both teams! An unforgettable clash at the highest level of play.

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