T1 defeats Top Esports to reach the semifinals of LoL Worlds 2024

Image: Riot Games

Faker and T1 are now one step closer to their fifth Summoner's Cup.

Reigning League of Legends (LoL) world champion. T1 continued their title defense in the knockout stages of the 2024 World Cup by comfortably defeating China Top e-sports (TES), 3-0, in the third best-of-five quarterfinal game of the tournament on Saturday (October 19).

Despite being 2023 World Champions, T1 had a very difficult 2024 season and almost missed the chance to defend its title. They secured a last-gasp spot at the 2024 World Championship by defeating KT Rolster in Round 3 of the LoL Champions Korea (LCK) Regional Finals and becoming South Korea's fourth seed in this year's World Championship tournament.

Meanwhile, TES secured its place at the 2024 World Cup as runners-up in the Chinese LoL Pro League (LPL). With three previous champions on its roster, TES was considered one of the bigger contenders to win the 2024 Summoner's Cup.

Both T1 and TES qualified for the Knockout Stage of the 2024 World Championship in the fourth round of the Swiss Stage.

T1 didn't have the most promising start, losing to TES in their first meeting in the first round of the Swiss stage. However, the defending champions bounced back with wins over paiN Gaming and Bilibili Gaming in rounds two and three, before defeating G2 Esports in round four to book their ticket to the Knockout Stage.

After defeating T1 in round one of the Swiss Stage, TES lost to Gen.G Esports in round two. However, the Chinese team also made it to the knockout rounds by defeating Fnatic and DPlus KIA.

Many preferred TES over T1 in their quarterfinals. The Chinese team had the more successful 2024 season, while their South Korean opponents barely made it to the 2024 World Cup, not to mention TES defeated T1 in their previous encounter at the Swiss stage. But LoL GOAT Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok proved that he and T1 should never be counted out so easily.

Top e-sportsvsT1

The series began with both teams sizing each other up, resulting in just four kills on the board well past the 25 minute mark and TES holding a slim 3-1 lead. However, T1 completely blew the game away after 27 minutes when they chased TES away from Nashor and scored a team wipe against them as they retreated.

T1 won another Baron battle soon after, allowing them to take the game with a win in just under 32 minutes and a 13-5 lead. Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong led the way as Caitlyn with a clean six kills and five assists, while Choi “Zeus” Woo-je on Camille and Faker on Sylas each had three kills.

Game two was a doozy in every sense of the word, as T1 took a commanding 2-0 series lead in 33 minutes, scoring 15 kills and conceding no deaths. Faker shined on Ahri, scoring six kills, Gumayusi on Xayah contributed four, Zeus on Rumble had three, and Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon on Xin Zhao added two.

TES put up a better fight in the third game, but it was clear that T1 had them under control. Despite the Chinese team's best efforts to regroup and stage a comeback, their South Korean opponents outplayed them at every turn before finally securing a 3-0 series victory in 37 minutes of play.

Notably, Gumayusi ended the series with a perfect KDA, recording seven clean kills and three assists against Xayah. Ryu “Keria” Min-seok on Pyke also shone with three kills and five assists with one death.

With their victory, T1 are one step closer to defending their title and reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 World Cup. They also secured at least a 3rd-4th place finish and $178,000 in winnings. Next, T1 will face the winner of the last quarterfinal match between Gen.G Esports and FlyQuest for a spot in the Grand Finals.

Meanwhile, TES became the second Chinese team to be eliminated from the 2024 World Cup, settling for 5th-8th place and a consolation prize of $100,125.