Riot “ignites war” regarding T1 and HLE
Recently, Hanwha Life Esports claimed the title at First Stand 2025. This is a significant achievement for this team, as many of its players have won an international tournament after a long time. However, Riot’s congratulatory message diminished the significance of HLE’s victory, being perceived as “provocative” and somewhat… dismissive of T1.
Specifically, to celebrate HLE’s victory, Riot’s official X page for managing professional League of Legends referred to this team as the “Best team in the world” and labeled Viper as the “best marksman in the world.” Notably, even though T1 could not participate in First Stand 2025, they are still the reigning champion of the 2024 World Championship – a tournament organized by Riot itself and the most prestigious event in the League of Legends scene.
Moreover, the First Stand 2025 tournament by Riot was initially regarded as a test event for the Fearless Draft mode. Even in terms of significance, aside from the prize money, the tournament only grants the champion a direct spot in the MSI group stage. Additionally, First Stand only featured 5 teams, including 1 from a smaller region (CFO) and 2 teams with extremely poor performance (TES, TL). Therefore, it is hard to compare First Stand to the World Championship.
T1 Remains a Formidable Opponent for HLE and the Professional League of Legends Scene
In reality, even with a roster considered among the weakest in the last 3 to 4 years, it cannot be denied: T1 and Gen.G are the two teams that can make HLE truly sweat to secure a win, if not say they almost lost in their encounters during the LCK Cup 2025. If T1 can reach international tournaments, Faker and his teammates will still be championship contenders.
Therefore, T1 is not a team that can be taken lightly. Especially when they are still the reigning world champions and the greatest team in the history of professional League of Legends.