The LPL World Championship qualifiers have come to an end, with IG securing victory over JDG for the fourth seed. Prior to the series, there were concerns about IG’s ability to qualify for Worlds, especially after they were thoroughly outplayed by Top Esports in the previous BO5. IG’s performance in the first game against JDG was also lackluster, leading many to believe they would be knocked out, but Gala emerged to lead a stunning turnaround in the second game from a difficult position.

After this BO5, the top and mid lanes really deserve credit for Gala. TheShy struggled against Xiaoxu in lane; his signature Aatrox was ineffective in team fights, and his renowned Jayce was unable to make an impact, ending 0-5 by 16 minutes. Although Rookie’s performance wasn’t spectacular, he stayed under the radar and didn’t have much influence. The jungle and support duo outperformed the mid and top lanes overall, especially the jungler, who dominated Xun in two games.

No matter how the matches went, qualifying for Worlds is a positive outcome—being among the top 17 is better than staying home. With IG confirmed for the Worlds, Rookie returns to the global stage after six years. The last time he qualified for the World Championship was in Season 9 with IG, but since then, he hasn’t made it back. It’s been 2,211 days, so honestly, making it this time is quite an achievement.

Although they made Worlds, IG doesn’t have a direct spot in the main event. Before the Swiss stage starts, IG must face T1, the fourth seed from LCK, in a BO5 to compete for a main event berth. Rookie’s return to Worlds immediately pits him against the toughest challenge in LoL. The chances of qualifying through the Swiss stage seem slim because T1, despite an average league performance, always steps up significantly in international tournaments.

However, IG isn’t without hope against T1 because Gumayusi has been performing poorly lately, failing to deliver standout plays throughout the playoffs. Gala, on the other hand, has been carrying IG recently. The bottom lane AD matchup could create an advantage, and most importantly, Gala is very confident. After defeating JDG, he boldly stated in an interview: We will stop T1.

As LPL fans, we definitely want IG to win, but aside from AD, it’s difficult for IG’s other four positions to gain an edge. Everyone has noticed TheShy’s current form. Although Doran isn’t a carry-style top laner, he has performed well this season. The jungler Oner, like Gala, has been consistently strong and is undoubtedly the best jungler in LCK right now.

There is also a noticeable gap in the mid lane matchup. The veteran Lee “Faker” is well respected, but Rookie is currently very confident. In an interview, he said: I’ve rarely lost when playing against T1. As for the support role, Keria is more skillful than Meiko, and in terms of vision control, Keria holds a slight advantage. Overall, IG’s chances are slim, but it will ultimately depend on how they perform on the day.

This BO5 qualifier is definitely the most hyped match of this year’s Worlds because both teams represent the top tier of their regions. The final tournament will probably have fewer viewers than this qualifier. With more than half a month before the event starts (October 14), IG has ample time to study T1’s strategies and playstyle. Hopefully, the players can reach their peak form and deliver a high-quality appetizer match against T1.

In conclusion:

After losing to TES, nobody expected IG to make Worlds, but JDG has been a real counter to them this season. JDG hasn’t beaten IG even once all year, which is quite surprising. They spent huge sums on signing two Korean carry players, yet still failed to qualify for Worlds. It’s likely that Peyz will pack up and return to LCK during the transfer window.

So, what do you think—can IG beat T1?

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