After a tense five-game series at MSI 2025, T1 secured a victory over CTBC Flying Oyster in the upper bracket quarterfinals held on July 4th in Vancouver. In a post-match interview, Faker and Gumayusi shared their thoughts on the decisive moments of the match, their opponents, the level of NA solo queue, and expectations for their upcoming clash against Bilibili Gaming.

This matchup marked T1’s first official game of the tournament and immediately put them in a high-pressure situation. The fifth map was a winner-takes-all scenario, with CFO delivering an impressively confident performance against one of MSI’s favorites. In this context, every insight from T1’s players after the victory sheds light not only on the match itself but also on their internal confidence and preparation for the main challenge — the rematch with BLG.

T1’s Debut at MSI — Facing a Tough Five-Map Series

Arriving at the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 as representatives of the LCK, T1 secured a direct spot in the upper bracket. This tournament marked their first major international event with the updated roster, particularly showcasing the dynamic between veteran Faker and star ADC Gumayusi. Their opponent, CTBC Flying Oyster from the PCS region, was considered the underdog but quickly proved to be a formidable challenge from the start.

The Final Map and Critical Moments: What Turned the Tide?

Reflecting on what led to their victory in the fifth game, Faker emphasized that mid-lane play was crucial. Despite a rocky early game, the team managed to recover and execute better plays in the late game:

I think the mid-lane play was crucial. Although it didn't go well in the early game, we were able to come back and make better plays later on, so I think that was the key.

  

Gumayusi added that since it was only their first match, it will take some time to fully adjust to the stage, with confidence building as the tournament progresses:

We just had our first match, so I think it's going to take a little more time to get used to the new stage and everything. Confidence will also build up later.

   

Rising Talents, Fans, and NA Solo Queue:

Another interesting topic was Faker’s duel with mid-laner HongQ, who was only six years old when Faker won his first World Championship. The Korean veteran acknowledged HongQ’s impressive skill:

I mean, HongQ played even better than I expected, so it was actually a rough series for me. But in the end, we had a really good game together.

   

Regarding training while in Canada, Faker shared his experience playing NA solo queue despite higher ping:

Well, any kind of solo queue game is good practice. The ping is a little higher, but it’s still helping a lot. One thing that's really fun about NA solo queue is that they chat a lot. I'm having a lot of fun reading the chats and having interactions.

     

Gumayusi expressed gratitude toward fans worldwide — both those attending in Vancouver and those watching live, even if it meant waking early:

I'm very grateful that so many fans are tuning in live to support us. And also, for all the fans out here, thank you so much for coming down to support us. I’ll make sure to do my best to achieve the best outcome here at MSI Vancouver.

 

Upcoming Rematch Against BLG

After their tough win over Flying Oyster, T1 will face Bilibili Gaming in the upper bracket semifinals — a team they decisively beat in the 2024 Worlds final. Faker admitted he hadn’t expected such a quick rematch:

I was actually not expecting a rematch to happen this fast. But I hope we can have a good game together, and I believe it’s not going to be as tough as today.

  

Gumayusi briefly but pointedly indicated his mindset heading into the game:

This guys is going to relive the nightmare of last World's Finals.

    

With their progression in the upper bracket of MSI, T1 now faces one of the tournament favorites, BLG. The history between these teams runs deep, and their upcoming encounter is more than just a match — it’s a chance for redemption, pressure, and an opportunity for T1 to reassert themselves as the top force on the global stage.

The Mid-Season Invitational 2025 will run from June 27th to July 12th in Canada, with a prize pool of $2,000,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament through this link.