MSI 2025: GenG Esports Versus T1 Chovy and Ruler Ascend to Legendary Status

The Mid-Season Invitational 2025 Grand Final delivered in every facet. The games were tense from start to finish. GenG Esports emerged victorious over their long-time rivals, T1. The series went to game five, with both teams playing on a knife’s edge. Ruler and Chovy showed why they are considered the best players in their roles.

MSI GenG Esports Versus T1 Game One

Draft

GenG – Blue Side

• B1 – Taliyah
• R1+R2 – Gwen+Jarvan IV
• B2+B3 – Lucian+Braum
• R3 – Orianna
• R4 – Jhin
• B4+B5 – Sejuani+Jax
• R5 – Alistar

Summary

The early lanes, Drake and Grubs, go towards GenG. In the second Drake fight, Canyon wins the smite battle, but two GenG members die. T1 begins to build an advantage with the Rift Herald securing two towers. Oner denies the Ocean Soul point. The Atakhan standoff sees an extended fight. GenG gets the objective, but the kills are in favor of T1. The Drakes are even, and when GenG overforces, they lose two members. T1 completes Baron on spawn. GenG moves to the Ocean Soul Point, but they can only get one kill compared to T1’s five. With the second Baron on their backs, the LCK second seed ends the game.

Game Two

Draft

GenG – Blue Side

• B1 – Ryze
• R1+R2 – Wukong+Corki
• B2+B3 – Vi+Sion
• R3 – Galio
• R4 – Poppy
• B4+B5 – Senna+Nautilus
• R5 – Camille

Summary

As with game one, GenG has an advantage in the lanes, which earns them the first Drake. Kiin solo kills Gumayusi for the First Blood. T1 wins the Grubs fight to get three kills in the extended play and most of the objective. T1 denies the Drake stacking. Kiin is monstrous on the Sion as he does not die before GenG can collapse. The Atakhan fight is a blood bath with only Kiin and Keria left standing. Chovy finds Gumayusi to set up an Atakhan take for GenG. Oner gets caught by the Baron, and the game is now out of T1’s control. The Ocean Soul goes to GenG, and with it, they end the game.

Game Three

Draft

T1 – Blue Side

• B1 – Azir
• R1+R2 – Rumble+Xin Zhao
• B2+B3 – Nocturne+Ornn
• R3 – Annie
• R4 – Rell
• B4+B5 – Xayah+Renata Glasc
• R5 – Sivir

Summary

Gumayusi and Keria outplay the GenG botlane in the 2v2 to get the First Blood on Duro. The heavy scaling composition secures the first Drake. The health bars are low in the Grubs fight, but no one dies. GenG gets two of the three Grubs. The second Drake fight is tense as well, but T1 is up two Drakes. Oner steals the Rift Herald, and the second seed dominates with five kills. In the follow-up to the fight, they get First Blood Tower and the Mountain Soul point.

GenG thinks they have the advantage at the Atakhan with Faker needing to base. Oner goes in with his ultimate to win the smite battle and kills Canyon. GenG has no chance in the Mountain Soul fight as they are denied in another engagement. Chovy tries a Hail Mary flank, but it does not work. T1 secures the Baron, and the gold lead goes over 10k. Another attempt from GenG to kill Faker fails, and T1 moves to match point.

Game Four

Draft

GenG – Blue Side

• B1 – Viktor
• R1+R2 – Skarner+Jinx
• B2+B3 – Trundle+Jayce
• R3 – Tahm Kench
• R4 – K’Sante
• B4+B5 – Zeri+Rakan
• R5 – Hwei

Summary

Canyon ganks Faker for the First Blood. The first Drake and an early gold lead go to GenG. Doran finds the angle to get the chunk on Canyon. That gives T1 two Grubs and a kill on Kiin after Oner skips the third Grub. The First Blood Tower and the second Drake go to T1. Gumayusi also gets a kill on Kiin. Keria engages too far on the Rift Herald, allowing GenG to secure the objective and break the mid lane tower.

GenG gives the Drake for a top-tier two-tower. An Atakhan standoff results in a pick on Faker. GenG wins the fight even with Gumayusi getting a reset, and they get Atakhan. GenG looks primed to bring the series to game five with a 5k gold lead. The Baron fight is comfortably in GenG’s favor, and they close out the game ot bring the series to Silver Scrapes.

Game Five

Draft

T1 – Blue Side

• B1 – Renekton
• R1+R2 – Nidalee+Aatrox
• B2+B3 – Caitlyn+Karma
• R3 – Aurora
• R4 – Miss Fortune
• B4+B5 – Viego+Ahri
• R5 – Pyke

Summary

Oner is the first to find an angle. He gets the First Blood on Kiin. GenG executes a dive onto the T1 bot lane to get two kills for Ruler. Oner runs the early game, getting a second kill, the first Drake, and the Grubs. GenG evens the Drake at 13 minutes into the game. The tense trades continue between both teams.

T1 overextends on the Rift Herald, giving over two kills, the objective, and First Blood tower to GenG. T1 forces the Atakhan, but GenG responds. Canyon smites the objective, and they kill Gumayusi. GenG moves to Mountain Soul point. GenG secures Baron and begins their match to win the series. T1 gives the Mountain Soul. GenG gets their second Baron, and they end the series to win the Mid-Season Invitational.

Reaction

Despite a hard-to-execute draft in game five, GenG emerged victorious in the Grand Final. Their execution was near flawless. Every player throughout the series had moments that they can be proud of. As far as international finals go, it was one of the best we have seen in recent years. Fearless Draft was a big proponent of that, allowing every game to feel different. The tournament as a whole was incredible, having so many tightly contested matches.