In the third Quarterfinal of the World Championship (Worlds) 2023, KT faced yet another representative from the LPL, officially becoming the only team this year to encounter all four representatives from China. Thus, KT’s opponent was JD Gaming – the top contender for the championship after Gen.G was eliminated. Moreover, JDG was considered an overwhelming challenge for KT, and many predictions believed that KT would have to end their journey at World Championship 2023 after this match.
An upset occurred when KT took the lead in game 1. However, the miracle did not happen, partly due to KT’s “self-destruction” before Ruler shined in game 4 with stunning performances. JDG won the match with a score of 3-1 and became the third team to reach the Semifinals of the World Championship 2023. Furthermore, JDG is also the third LPL representative in the upcoming round. In the other “China-Korea showdown,” T1 will face LNG Esports to keep their championship hopes alive as well as those of the LCK.
After KT’s loss and Gen.G’s earlier defeat, T1 inadvertently became the team most talked about in both the League of Legends community in Vietnam and worldwide. This is because T1 is now “LCK’s last hope.” Additionally, their record of “never losing to LPL” in a BO3 or BO5 at Worlds serves as a pillar of confidence for their fans and the LCK audience amidst the looming reality of “4 LPL teams in the Semifinals.”
But there is another crucial factor: if they can overcome the difficult challenges ahead and secure victory, this could be one of the most meaningful championships for T1. This would mark the first time they would have to defeat two LPL representatives in the knockout stage to win the championship. Adding in BLG from the previous Swiss round, T1 would have defeated 3 out of 4 LPL representatives if they ultimately triumph at this year’s Worlds.
To achieve this, T1’s first goal is to overcome LNG. Scout will have the opportunity to rematch T1, and perhaps, star moments will once again determine the outcome of this matchup.