T1 is set to clash with Anyone’s Legend next Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Championship, with both teams heading in on dramatically different trajectories in the tournament. For Anyone’s Legend, the bout represents a vital opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage, despite their relative inexperience. Meanwhile, T1, the reigning back-to-back world champions, seeks to advance further in their quest for an unprecedented sixth title.
The upcoming series is anticipated to be one of the tightest competition in the quarterfinals. Earlier in the tournament, Gen.G triumphed over Hanwha Life Esports with a 3-1 score, while KT Rolster delivered a clean sweep against CTBC Flying Oyster, setting up a semifinal face-off against Gen.G. The winner between T1 and Anyone’s Legend will then go on to challenge either G2 Esports or Top Esports for a spot in the finals.
The paths to this quarterfinals matchup have starkly contrasted. Anyone’s Legend achieved a flawless performance during the Swiss Stage, defeating notable teams such as Hanwha Life Esports and Gen.G, concluding the stage with a perfect 3-0. However, this unbeaten run may not fully reflect their preparedness for the high-stakes environment of the quarterfinals, as their last appearance was on October 17.
In contrast, T1’s journey has been a tale of resilience. After securing an early win against FlyQuest, they stumbled, falling to a 1-2 record after losses to CTBC Flying Oyster and Gen.G. Nevertheless, the team regained their footing with victories against 100 Thieves and Movistar KOI. T1 has yet to clinch a best-of series against an Asian team during this tournament, adding to the pressure.
Despite these challenges, T1 remains the favorite in this elimination matchup. The team boasts a combined 26 appearances at the League of Legends World Championship among its five players, a significant contrast to Anyone’s Legend’s seven. Although Anyone’s Legend had an edge in their recent encounter—a 2-0 victory at the Esports World Cup—T1’s prior triumph over them in the Lower Bracket Final of the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational weighs heavily in their favor.
The upcoming matchup promises to be captivating, as it features not only the two teams’ tight competition levels but also the psychological edge that T1 holds; they have an undefeated record against LPL teams in best-of-five series at Worlds. This reputation was nearly challenged in 2024 when they faced Bilibili Gaming but emerged victorious with a narrow 3-2 win.
Much of the focus will likely be on the junglers, who are instrumental to each team’s strategy. For T1, Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun has been pivotal throughout the year, setting aggressive paces for his team. Similarly, Anyone’s Legend’s Lee “Tarzan” Seung-yong is crucial, as the team’s momentum hinges on his performance.
The series also presents a clash of contrasting game styles and draft strategies. During their previous encounters, such as the 2025 MSI finals game five, the distinct approaches were highlighted—Anyone’s Legend opted for an unconventional Olaf jungle strategy, while T1 executed a balance that showcased Oner’s efficiency on Skarner and Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong’s superiority on Jinx, which resulted in a strong T1 victory.
As T1 and Anyone’s Legend prepare for this thrilling quarterfinal matchup, anticipation builds for what promises to be one of the most exciting confrontations in the tournament. The outcome could shape the narrative of the rest of the World Championship, making this encounter essential viewing for fans of competitive League of Legends.