The Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) 2025 Grand Final culminated in a high-stakes battle between two South Korean giants, with Gen.G ultimately prevailing over T1 in a tightly contested series. The final scoreline read 3-2 in favor of Gen.G, a result that saw the venerable Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and his T1 squad finish as the tournament`s runners-up.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Gen.G, securing them the coveted MSI 2025 championship title. Beyond the prestige, the win came with a substantial reward: $500,000 USD in prize money and, perhaps more importantly for their long-term goals, a guaranteed direct slot at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship. This removes the pressure of regional qualification for Gen.G and allows them to focus squarely on preparing for the year`s biggest event.
T1, while falling just short in the grand final, still demonstrated formidable performance throughout the tournament and earned a significant prize of $300,000 USD for their second-place finish. Securing third place was the Chinese team Anyone`s Legend, who took home $240,000 USD.
MSI 2025 was hosted in Vancouver, Canada, running from June 27th to July 13th. The event featured ten top-tier teams from various competitive regions, all vying for international glory. The tournament`s total prize pool stood at an impressive $2,000,000 USD. Notably, this figure represents a seven-fold increase compared to the prize pool of the previous year`s MSI, underscoring the rapid growth and increasing scale of the Mid-Season Invitational as a premier esports event. The significant financial commitment highlights the value Riot Games and its partners place on this mid-year international showdown.
The Grand Final series itself was a fitting conclusion to the tournament, delivering the kind of back-and-forth action fans expect from a clash between these two legendary organizations. While T1 and Faker pushed the series to its absolute limit, Gen.G held their nerve in the crucial final game to secure the championship. For Faker, it was a rare moment of defeat in an international final, reminding us that even the “Unkillable Demon King” can face formidable opposition. Gen.G`s performance solidifies their position at the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends, adding another major trophy to their collection and setting a high bar for the rest of the year.
Jasper Hawthorne