Currently, the World Championships in League of Legends are taking place in South Korea. T1 secured victory in the semifinals with the unkillable demon king
Faker. MeinMMO reveals how the semifinals went.
What a game it was! On Sunday morning, November 12, T1 and JDG faced each other in the semifinals at the LoL Worlds 2023 in South Korea. T1 secured victory with a score of 3:1.
- T1 is the Korean championship team with the legendary midlaner, the “unkillable demon king” Faker, who has already snatched 3 World Championship titles in the early years of League of Legends. Alongside Faker and the strong ADC Gumayusi, especially the supporter Keria shone, as he is the only one with a double-digit KDA at the Worlds 2023.
- JDGaming (JDG) is regarded as the ultimate team in League of Legends in 2023 and was already seen as the top favorite for the World Championship title before the tournament began. With midlaner knight, they have a player on the team who many consider to be the best midlaner in the world right now. Additionally, they can rely on the impressive skills of Ruler and Kanavi. JDG is seen as particularly strong in team fights.
We will reveal how the semifinals went and what crazy highlights there were.
T1 Dominates with Spectacular Plays and Wins the First Game After 25 Minutes
These were the picks in the first game:
- T1: Orianna (Faker), Rell (Oner), Aatrox (Zeus), Jhin (Gumayusi), Bard (Keria)
- Gumayusi was the first to pick Jhin in the Worlds 2023
- JDG: Rumble (369), Akali (knight), Vi (Kanavi), Xayah (Ruler), Alistar (MISSING)
How did the first match go? JDG ADC Ruler proudly wore the Xayah Worlds skin, introduced after he won the World Championship in 2017 with Samsung Galaxy (SSG). The game started intensely in the early game, with the first blood going to Aatrox (T1 Zeus), assisted by jungle Rell (Oner). Zeus continued his dominance and secured the second kill in the game by defeating Rumble (JDG 369) on the top lane.
A highlight occurred around minute 9, when an impressive combo of Bard and Orianna’s ultimates took place. Faker impressed by hitting three enemies with Orianna’s Shockwave, dominating the fight.
Keria Shines During the Semifinals and Dominates the Map
At minute 13, Bard (T1 Keria) executed a successful gank on the top lane by cleverly using his ultimate. This led to Rumble being unable to escape, and Aatrox secured another kill. Shortly thereafter, T1 destroyed the first tower of the game, highlighting their clear dominance in the early game.
T1 Keria with Bard had control of the map. With a vision score of 95 after just 23 minutes, he proved that control over the map is immensely important.
Here you can see the gank:
Faker’s Skills with Orianna
Highlight: Faker once again showcased his skills in a team fight at minute 17. A special highlight was how his Shockwave pulled an enemy narrowly out of Bard’s portal, hitting three and turning the team fight around.
Here you can see the team fight:
JDG Won the Second Game with Strong Team Fights
These were the picks in the second game:
- JDG: Orianna, Kalista, Vi, K’Sante, Senna
- T1: Caitlyn, Ashe, Azir, Maokai, Aatrox
How did the second game go? The match started with an invade from T1, leading to Maokai getting first blood, but then died to Kalista (JDG). Caitlyn (T1) also managed to secure a kill. The performances of K’Sante (369) and Kalista (Ruler) were particularly impactful in the game. Overall, not many kills fell in the early game, and by around the 20th minute, the score was 4:4.
In the 20th minute, a team fight occurred around the third dragon, which JDG successfully took. T1 engaged on Vi (Kanavi), but he killed Maokai and managed to escape at the same time. Subsequently, JDG turned the fight in their favor by taking out Aatrox with a coordinated combo, and Ruler snagged the kill.
Here you can see the team fight:
Even afterwards, JDG dominated in the fight. Kanavi attacked Caitlyn with his ultimate, leading to Gumayusi being taken down. While T1 managed to eliminate Vi, JDG ultimately won the fight when Ruler secured the decisive kill on One. This allowed them to take Baron and successfully push.
Highlight: Around minute 30, Faker was taken out in the team fight in the mid lane by Vi’s ultimate. At this critical moment, K’Sante and Senna secured the remaining kills, giving JDG a clear advantage – thereafter they took the inhibitor in the middle and the Baron.
In the T1 base, the final fight occurred, which JDG 369 with K’Sante and Ruler with Kalista could particularly carry.
Here you can see the final fight:
Strong Neck-and-Neck Race in the Third Game, T1 Secured the Win with Faker’s Play
These were the picks in the third game:
- T1: Aatrox, Rell, Azir, Kalista, Renata
- JDG: Renekton, Wukong, Taliyah, Varus, Ashe
In the first three minutes, there were already 3 kills, including 2 that Keria secured as Renata. At minute 13, an exciting fight occurred on the top lane, which JDG won with a good use of teleport – overall a strong early game by JDG.
However, the dynamics of the game changed in minute 17, when T1 dominated in the fight for the third dragon. JDG knight zoned the entire team with Taliyah’s ultimate except for Oner with Rell. This allowed them to focus their damage on him.
But Oner impressively flashed Ashe’s arrow to get his crowd control (CC) onto the carries. Together with Faker’s Azir ultimate, they were able to take Ashe and Taliyah out of the fight. Oner then also secured the dragon for his team.
Here you can see the fight for the dragon:
In the 27th minute of the game, JDG Missing hit Oner with his precise Ashe ultimate in the mid lane. The hit led to JDG securing the kill on Rell and also taking out Aatrox. They then easily took Baron.
Big Highlight: Faker’s Legendary Engage with Azir Secures the Victory
About minute 29, another spectacular team fight occurred in the mid lane, as JDG pushed with the Baron they had previously taken. JDG Missing fired off another Ashe arrow, which nearly hit Kalista (Gumayusi) if he hadn’t flashed out at lightning speed.
Faker anticipated Ruler’s flash, hitting his ultimate with Azir, allowing Oner with Rell to land CC on Varus (Ruler) and Taliyah (knight), leading T1 to ultimately win the team fight 5/0 and initiate a crucial turn in the game. This legendary moment from Faker allowed T1 to eventually secure the game.
Here you can see the highlight:
T1 Secured the Victory with 3:1 and Advances to the Finals
These were the picks in the fourth game:
- JDG: Aatrox, Bel’Veth, Orianna, Zeri, Lulu
- T1: Yone, Jarvan IV, Azir, Varus, Bard
What were the highlights in the fourth game? In the fourth exciting match, there were several highlights. At minute 20, T1 managed to dominate the game as Zeus with Yone successfully eliminated Bel’Veth, and Faker with Azir was able to take down Kanavi. Following this, T1 took the Baron, significantly strengthening their position in the game.
The next decisive team fight took place around the third dragon. JDG started the Ocean Drake, but Oner managed to secure the dragon for T1 with Jarvan IV using Smite. In an impressive play, Faker secured a double kill and turned the team fight in favor of T1 with a flash ultimate combo.
Highlight: Shortly thereafter on the top lane, T1 Oner secured the kill on Bel’Veth with the Jarvan IV ultimate. Thereafter, it was about the Dragonsoul
for T1 – Zeus started the dragon and applied pressure. Faker nearly single-handedly took out Vi (Kanavi) and ultimately the dragon went to T1.
Gumayusi decided the team fight for T1 by getting the kills on Zeri and Aatrox. This success allowed T1 to secure Baron and further establish control over the game.
Here you can see the fight for the Dragonsoul
:
The Last Team Fight
With the Baron buff behind them, T1 managed to destroy no less than 3 inhibitors and both Nexus towers, leading to the final team fight, which T1 dominated and won. Oner took out Bel’Veth with a Jarvan IV ultimate, while Zeus and Faker focused their attention on Ruler. This allowed them to win the team fight in the end, destroy the Nexus, and secure the victory.
Could Faker Finally Retrieve the World Championship Title Again?
What’s next? Today, T1 secured the victory against JDG, and thus T1 will face Weibo Gaming in the finals, which take place next week on November 19 – we are curious about what plays await us in a week. Faker has already won the World Championship title in 2013, 2015, and 2016 – this year he could become World Champion in LoL for the fourth time.
How did you find the games today? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
This is how Weibo Gaming made it to the semifinals: After 5 years, a gifted top laner makes it to the finals again – This is how the semifinals went
