In one of the most intense showdowns in competitive League of Legends history, Gen.G has officially defended their title and are the back-to-back champions of the Mid-Season Invitational, taking down T1 in a nail-biting 3-2 series to win the 2025 MSI Grand Finals.
The rematch between LCK giants Gen.G and T1 was everything fans could have hoped for mechanical excellence, strategic mind games, and highlight-reel moments worthy of a world championship. With this win, Gen.G not only walks away with the $500,000 grand prize, but also extends their undefeated streak this season to 23 wins.
Both teams came into MSI 2025 as heavy favorites. Gen.G were the reigning MSI 2024 champions, while T1 held the 2024 Worlds title. Their collision in the finals match was inevitable and the Grand Finals series lived up to its hype.
T1 dominated early in the tournament, surviving a 3-2 war against CTBC Flying Oyster and sweeping Bilibili Gaming. However, they dropped to the lower bracket after a 3-2 loss to Gen.G in the Upper Bracket Finals. There, they fought tooth and nail to eliminate LPL champs Anyone's Legend in yet another five-game slugfest.
Meanwhile, Gen.G was flawless, dispatching G2 Esports 3-1, then outlasting Anyone’s Legend before beating T1 for a second time in the Grand Finals.
MSI 2025 Grand Finals: Game by Game Recap
Game 1 - T1 Victory (1-0):
T1 clawed their way back after Gen.G’s early lead. Faker’s clutch Shockwave and superior team fighting sealed the win after a 34-minute brawl.
Game 2 - Gen.G Victory (1-1):
A back-and-forth affair until mid-game where Gen.G capitalized on small mistakes. Kiin’s unkillable Sion created space and closed it out in 30 minutes.
Game 3 - T1 Victory (2-1):
T1 dismantled Gen.G with a dominating 22-2 kill lead. Oner’s Nocturne and Keria’s Renata Glasc flipped every fight, ending the game in 27 minutes.
Game 4 - Gen.G Victory (2-2):
Both teams traded blows, but a critical Atakhan and Baron fight gave Gen.G a clean ace. They closed it out in 28 minutes to force Game 5.
Game 5 - Gen.G Victory (3-2):
With the title on the line, Gen.G’s Ruler came alive, leading every team fight and dominating the map. Gen.G secured every objective and finally broke T1’s Nexus in 35 minutes to become MSI 2025 champions.
Gen.G's road has been a golden one, with them going undefeated through the entire split. They have gone 23W-0L with their last loss being 140 days ago. However, Gen.G’s road to winning the title wasn’t just about mechanics it was about composure, adaptation, and executing under pressure. Ruler, in particular, delivered an MVP-worthy performance, serving as the consistent carry in clutch moments. Here is an excellent tweet that sums up why they performed so god-like in Game 5 with playing such a tricky draft with almost no CC for teamfighting.
On the other hand, T1 sadly ends their impressive run in second place, taking home $300,000. Although they fell short, they showed championship-level form throughout the event and continue to be one of the most dangerous teams on the planet as always. We are sure to see them return in a big fashion to the Worlds stage.
With MSI 2025 now wrapped up, all eyes turn to the Summer Split and the road to Worlds 2025. There are a few questions that remain to be answered, will Gen.G be able to keep paving the way of the golden road through Worlds 2025? Will T1 bounce back and return for the title at Worlds when the stakes are highest?
There is one thing that is certain however, that the rivalry between Gen.G and T1 has reached legendary status and beyond, and the world will be watching for the next facedown between these two League Of Legends giants.
Stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more updates as the E-Sports World Cup is just around the corner for League Of Legends fans!