MSI 2025: Anyone’s Legend Versus CTBC Flying Oyster The Taiwanese Hope Crumbles

CTBC Flying Oyster aimed to continue their Cinderella story at MSI. Unfortunately, the LPL’s first seed, Anyone’s Legend, proved to be too much for CFO. The series was close at times, but AL was in control for the majority of the games. CFO is eliminated from MSI, while AL progresses in the Lower Bracket and awaits their opponent in the next round of MSI.

MSI Anyone’s Legend Versus CTBC Flying Oyster Game One

Draft

CFO – Blue Side, AL – Red Side

• B1 – Xin Zhao
• R1+R2 – Azir+Poppy
• B2+B3 – Taliyah+Gragas
• R3 – Yorick
• R4 – Jhin
• B4+B5 – Miss Fortune+Alistar
• R5 – Bard

Summary

Driver starts game one. A gank on Shanks is the only action in the first eight minutes. He burns his flash but survives. Flandre’s move towards Grubs gives Tarzan the confidence to fight JunJia. He is forced to use his ultimate and flash, resulting in the Grubs’ secure for AL. In the extended play, Kaiwing gets caught and killed before he reaches level six. CFO secures their first Drake but loses JunJia as they try to escape. The fight for the Rift Herald occurs in the mid-lane. Neither team wins. In the aftermath, AL gets the Rift while CFO picks up their second Drake.

CFO moves to Mountain Soul Point, and a fight breaks out around Atakhan. While at the start, AL looks comfortable, Doggo stands his ground to keep it even. AL takes down Driver to get the positioning on the Drake and denies the soul. Atakhan goes to AL. Ultimates are traded back and forth between both teams, but it is AL who gets the Drake and wins the fight. AL destroys the Nexus to take game one.

Game Two

Draft

CFO – Blue Side, AL – Red Side

• B1 – Driver
• R1+R2 – Ryze+Wukong
• B2+B3 – Skarner+Corki
• R3 – Neeko
• R4 – Lucian
• B4+B5 – Kai’Sa+Nautilus
• R5 – Galio

Summary

The game starts bloody. Kael dies for First Blood, but Hope secures two kills in response. After CFO secures two Grubs, AL gets two kills by combining their ultimates. AL continues to extend their lead on the second Drake, securing the objective and three more kills. CFO can not enter to fight for Rift Herald, losing two more members, but they at least kill Tarzan. CFO does not have the damage to win the Ocean Soul fight. They lose four members and the soul.

AL turns on JunJia near Baron, but it goes sideways. CFO gets the ace and the objective. CFO are now ahead in gold. With the advantage, CFO gets the Elder Drake. Doggo dies during CFO’s push. AL chases the LCP team, which ends in both teams securing kills. The second Baron goes the way of CFO. Kaiwing fails the engagement, giving AL a chance to stop the Baron’s push. CFO is brought low, allowing AL to secure the Elder Drake and Baron. AL plays to suffocate CFO, and the Elder buff falls off, but they still win the fight and end the game.

Game Three

Draft

AL – Blue Side, CFO – Red Side

• B1 – Rell
• R1+R2 – Trundle+Ezreal
• B2+B3 – Lee Sin+Annie
• R3 – Braum
• R4 – Orianna
• B4+B5 – Xayah+Gwen
• R5 – Gnar

Summary

Rest subs in for game three. Another level one fight happens, but this time there are no kills. Similarly to the first game, little action occurs before the first Drake. CFO secures the objective and gets two kills to open up the game. AL tries to contest the second Drake, but they are late and botch their engagements. CFO gets two kills and the Drake. The Rift Herald goes to CFO for the first time in the series. Kaiwing is caught in the Drake fight, allowing AL to stop the stacking. HongQ disrespects AL’s positioning and gives over a shutdown to Flandre. Fortunately for CFO, they get three towers and a kill on Flandre to maintain the gold lead.

After two picks from AL, they force Atakhan. Doggo unleashes all of his abilities to punish AL and earn himself a quadra. Doggo solo kills Hope, which gives CFO the confidence to force Baron. They pull off the objective initially to secure two kills and then return to the Baron. CFO plays their range to keep AL from denying the Mountain Soul. Al forces a fight out of desperation, but they are shut down. CFO keeps the series going.

Game Four

Draft

AL – Blue Side, CFO – Red Side

• B1 – Jayce
• R1+R2 – Aurora+Jarvan IV
• B2+B3 – Jinx+Sylas
• R3 – K’Sante
• R4 – Thresh
• B4+B5 – Blitzcrank+Maokai
• R5 – Sivir

Summary

JunJia dives into the AL bot lane to get Doggo First Blood. At the same time, Tarzan ganks HongQ. The CFO midlaner dies but takes Shanks with him. Despite the early leads for CFO, they do not extend the advantage. AL catches Doggo and gives the kill to Hope. They secure the Drake and try to dive HongQ, but it goes sideways.

The Rift Herald fight leaves all members on low health. It is a one-for-one trade in kills, and the Herald goes the way of CFO. AL pulls CFO around the map, allowing them to get two kills and the Atakhan. AL denies the Ocean Soul point with four kills, and they move to the Baron. AL uses the Baron Powerplay to end the game and the series.

Reaction

CFO started the series shaky, struggling to keep up with AL. They grew into the games and had a chance to be 2-1, but they were over-eager. Ultimately, this MSI is a performance they can be proud of, and they must be respected at EWC and the World Championship. For AL, weaknesses were on display. They need to fix those mistakes if they want to defeat the LCK at MSI. For now, they await the winner of FlyQuest and Bilibili Gaming.