He actually did it.
You’ve probably seen the clips by now. You’ve definitely seen the "GOAT" memes. But honestly, if you only watched the highlight reels of the lol 世界 赛 2024 (2024 League of Legends World Championship), you missed the part where T1 almost didn't even make it to London. This wasn't some dominant victory lap from a powerhouse team. It was a messy, desperate, and occasionally terrifying crawl to the finish line at The O2 Arena.
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When Bilibili Gaming (BLG) took a 2-1 lead in the Grand Finals, the air in the stadium changed. It felt like the LPL's year. Bin was looking like a monster, and Knight was finally playing like the superstar China needed him to be. Then, Game 4 happened. And Game 5 happened. And Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok reminded everyone that he isn't just a player—he’s a win condition.
The Reality of lol 世界 赛 2024: T1 Was Barely Even There
Let’s get real for a second. Before the tournament started, people weren't betting their life savings on T1. They were the LCK’s fourth seed. They had to fight through a brutal regional qualifier just to get a ticket to Europe. They were losing to Dplus KIA and struggling against KT Rolster.
Meanwhile, Gen.G was supposed to be the "golden road" team. BLG was the undisputed king of the LPL. T1 looked tired. They looked like a roster that had stayed together one year too long. But Worlds is a different dimension.
The Swiss Stage was a wake-up call. BLG actually struggled early, almost getting knocked out with a 1-2 record before clawing back. T1 lost their opening match to Top Esports (TES) and people immediately started writing the "end of an era" articles. It’s funny how fast we forget that T1 thrives when they are backed into a corner.
Why the T1 vs. BLG Final Was Different
Most Worlds finals are stomps. Think about G2 getting dismantled by FPX or the quick 3-0s of the past. This wasn't that. This was a heavyweight boxing match where both sides were bleeding.
- Game 1 was a statement by BLG. They absolutely rolled T1 in 27 minutes. It wasn't even close. Bin’s Rumble was everywhere, and it felt like T1’s "ZOFGK" roster had finally met its match.
- Game 2 saw T1 punch back. They drafted Ornn for Zeus and Sylas for Faker, basically saying, "We can play the late game better than you." They tied it up.
- Game 3 shifted back to BLG. This is the game that scared T1 fans. BLG looked clinical. Knight’s Galio was a nightmare, and they moved to match point.
At 2-1, the narrative was set. BLG was going to be the first all-Chinese roster to win Worlds in over a decade. The "LPL dominance" era was supposedly here.
The Turning Point: Faker's Sylas and the Hero Play
If you want to understand lol 世界 赛 2024, you have to watch Game 4. Specifically, you have to watch the moment Faker decided he wasn't losing.
There’s this misconception that Faker is just a "stable" mid-laner now—that he just manages the wave and lets Zeus or Gumayusi carry. That’s nonsense. In Game 4, his Sylas was a heat-seeking missile. He was diving into four people, stealing ultimates, and surviving on a sliver of health.
The peak of the tournament, though, was Game 5. Silver Scrapes. The O2 Arena was shaking.
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T1 drafted Galio for Faker. Now, Galio is usually a "supportive" pick. You pick it to help your team. But in Faker’s hands, it was an assassin. The play in the top lane—where he saved Zeus and then turned the fight to kill Knight and Elk—is the reason T1 has a fifth star on their jersey. It was a 2-for-0 trade that should have been a disaster for T1.
The Bin vs. Zeus Matchup
Everyone talks about Faker, but the top lane battle was where the game was actually won and lost. Bin is widely considered the best individual top laner in the world. He’s a lane bully. He’s the guy who wants to 1v9.
Zeus, on the other hand, is a shapeshifter. In the finals, he played Gnar, Ornn, Jax, Rumble, and Gragas. He didn't always win the lane, but he won the game. He took the "bad" side of the matchup so Faker and Gumayusi could have resources. That’s the nuance people miss. Being the "best" isn't just about solo kills; it’s about being what your team needs in the 35th minute of a Game 5.
What This Means for the Future of LoL Esports
Winning lol 世界 赛 2024 didn't just give T1 another trophy. It shattered the idea that rosters need to be blown up every year. This group—Zeus, Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, and Keria—has been together for years. They’ve lost together, they’ve cried on stage together (looking at you, 2022), and now they’ve won back-to-back.
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But let's not pretend everything is perfect. The gap between the LCK/LPL and the rest of the world is now a canyon. The LEC (Europe) and LCS (North America) were essentially spectators by the time the semifinals rolled around.
Surprising Stats from the Tournament
- Viewership: The final peaked at over 6.9 million viewers (excluding China). That’s a record for esports.
- The LPL Curse: T1 still has never lost a Best-of-5 against an LPL team at Worlds. It’s a psychological wall at this point.
- Faker's Longevity: He won his first title in 2013. He won his fifth in 2024. Eleven years at the top of a sport that usually retires players by age 23 is practically impossible.
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Season
If you're a fan or a player looking at what made lol 世界 赛 2024 so special, here’s what you should take away:
- Champion Pool Versatility Over Meta-Slavery: T1 didn't just play the "OP" champions. They played comfort. Faker's Galio and Zeus's Gragas weren't the highest-tier picks in the patch notes, but they were the picks they knew how to win with.
- Mentality is Everything: Being down 1-2 in a Worlds Final is a mental death sentence for most teams. T1’s ability to treat Game 4 like a fresh start is a lesson in sports psychology.
- Watch the VODs of the Swiss Stage: If you want to get better at the game, don't just watch the finals. Watch how BLG managed to survive the 1-2 bracket in the Swiss Stage. Their map rotations when they were behind were masterclasses in damage control.
The 2024 World Championship was the end of an era in many ways, especially with the upcoming changes to the professional circuit in 2025. But for now, the story of lol 世界 赛 2024 is simple: The King kept his crown, and the "Unkillable Demon King" proved he's still exactly that.
To prepare for the next season, start following the LCK and LPL roster shuffles early. The "ZOFGK" era may be changing form, but the strategic blueprint they left behind in London will be the gold standard for years. Keep an eye on the official LoL Esports schedule for the 2025 kickoff tournaments, as the new "Fearless Draft" format is expected to change how teams approach champion pools entirely.