After weeks of match play, it has come down to the final two teams of the 2024 League of Legends World Championships. Bilibili Gaming of China will face off against Korea’s T1 in the Worlds finale on November 2. Let take a look at it in this article below.
No Easy Paths at Worlds
Although T1 are the reigning champions, their journey to the Worlds finals this year was anything but certain. The team faced a number of tough challengers throughout the tournament and actually started the Swiss Stage with a round 1 loss. The early rounds of the Swiss Stage are played in a best-of-one game format and T1 lost when faced with China’s Top Esports team. Despite the loss, T1 rallied defeating paiN Gaming and Bilibili in best-of-one play and beating G2 Gaming 2-0 in a best-of-three match in round 4. That win gave T1 the three they needed to advance to the Knockout Stage.
Bilibili Struggle Early
Bilibili also struggled in the Swiss Stage and only secured its ticket to the Knockout Stage in the fifth and final round of play. In 2023, the team made it all the way to the semifinal rounds before falling to rival Chinese team Weibo Gaming.
The 2024 tournament started with a win as Bilibili made short work of MAD Lions Koi, who had qualified for Worlds by placing in the Play-In Stage. Following this win, however, Bilibili would fall to LNG Esports and T1 in rounds 2 and 3. With elimination on the line, Bilibili smashed PSG Talon 2-0 in round 4, setting up a win-or-go-home scenario between them and G2 in round 5. The best of three matches went the distance with each team winning a game before Bilibili took the third game and the invitation to the Knockout Stage.
Revenge in the Knockouts
The Worlds Knockout Stage gave both of the finalists a chance at redemption and the teams did not disappoint. The first team to exact some revenge was T1 who landed in the quarterfinal bracket and matched against Top Esports. While the Chinese team may have hoped to knock the reigning champions out, T1 was on a hot streak with star midlaner Faker having notched his 100th win at Worlds. T1 would never give Top Esports a chance and swept the best of five matches, 3 games to none. Bilibili Gaming’s moment of retribution came in the semifinals when they faced off against Weibo Gaming. In the same round last year, Weibo came away victorious, taking the best-of-five match with a score of 3-2. This year, Bilibili ran the table and shut out their rivals, clinching a spot in the finals with a 3-0 victory.
Old Foes Face Off
The other semifinal round pitted Korean rivals Gen.G Gaming and T1 against one another. The teams both compete in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LGK) Region and most of their matches there have gone in favor of Gen.G Gaming. Worlds is another matter entirely, however, and T1 elevates its play when on a global stage. This was certainly the case in the semis where T1 struck first taking a game 1 victory in almost exactly 30 minutes. Gen.G fought back and secured a win in game 2, but T1 won games 3 and 4 in decisive fashion. With the finals now set, fans will get to see a rematch of the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational from May, when Bilibili defeated T1 3-2 in the lower bracket finals.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play. Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out—explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports, to stay informed.
