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League of Legends: The top teams defining the Mid-Season Invitational
The 2025 League of Legends World Championship is here. From heavy hitters to global underdogs, here are the teams you need to be watching battle it out in China.
It's here: the 2025 League of Legends season is coming to a close with the annual World Championship now underway, this time with China as the backdrop for an exciting end to the year. The brightest and best teams from the globe's domestic League of Legends competitions will battle it out, and with 17 teams aiming for the top spot, just who will emerge victorious?
From Europe's heavy hitters, to South Korean champions looking to retain their crowns, and Chinese superstars aiming to be the best on home soil, here are the teams you need to keep an eye on during this year's competition.
01
T1
Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok is aiming for a third title in a row
© Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
South Korea's T1 hardly need an introduction: the reigning World Champions scooped the top prize in 2024, following an exciting skirmish against China's Billibilli Gaming in London, England and became back-to-back champions in the process. The squad, starring the indomitable will of Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok, has largely remained the same that lifted the Summoner's Cup in 2023 and 2024 – yet they haven't hit the same highs this year as before.
With struggles in the regular season to the largely unstoppable Gen.G, and a fourth-place finish in the LCK play-offs, T1 narrowly qualified through to the World Championship Play-In stage, and now have their eyes set on making it to the knockout stage of the biggest event of the year. Can they make it three in a row? Will Faker continue to add to his legacy? Keep your eyes locked on these titans.
02
G2 Esports
How far will G2 go?
© Aiksoon Lee/Riot Games
After securing a record 17th domestic title in a dominant 3-0 LEC Summer Final win over Movistar Koi, G2 Esports have proven yet again that they're a serious force to be reckoned with, and move forward into this year's World Championship as EMEA's first seed. With a flawless Summer Season capped off with an untouchable display during the finals, G2 Esports will no doubt be taking forward that momentum into their Worlds 2025 campaign.
Rasmus 'Caps' Winther, who's competed on the Worlds stage with G2 multiple times, and has celebrated his 15th domestic title with the squad, still has his hopes set on lifting the Summoner's Cup – and could this finally be his year?
Fnatic
Fnatic will be aiming high on the world stage
© Christina Oh/Riot Games
With high-placement finishes throughout the year, including a third-place finish during the LEC's Summer Season to secure their place at Worlds, Fnatic have shown incredible consistency in their ability to place high and deliver results. With a core squad of Iván 'Razork' Martín Díaz and Óscar 'Oscarinin' Muñoz, along with veterans Mihael 'Mikyx' Mehle and Elias 'Upset' Lipp, Fnatic have no shortage of talent and are aiming high at this year's Worlds.
With T1 Esports Academy alum Yoon 'Poby' Sung-won taking over for Marek 'Humanoid' Brázda since the Summer Season, he's brought in a fresh perspective and incredible mechanical skill, and has helped hone Fnatic through some of their more difficult games. Will he be able to take some of that T1 magic and help Fnatic to go far at this year's Worlds?
03
100 Thieves
One final heist for 100 Thieves?
© Aiksoon Lee/Riot Games
As the third-seeded team at Worlds from the Americas, 100 Thieves have the odds stacked against them – but it seems they can turn it up when it counts. With a varied season punctuated by an incredible lower-bracket run in the League of Legends Championship of The Americas North 2025 Split 3 elimination stage, and a third-place finish during the LTA Regional Championship finals, 100 Thieves have shown that they can deliver when the pressure is on – and can you add more pressure than performing against the world's best teams?
With 100 Thieves bowing out of the LTA at the end of this season and Sentinels taking over their slot, will they be able to end their League of Legends run as World Champions? It's worth keeping an eye here in case they're able to pull off the heist of the century.
04
Top Esports
Can Top Esports' JackeyLove take home another Summoner's Cup?
© Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
As one of China's strongest teams, Top Esports will no doubt be looking to perform on home soil. Taking first place at the LPL 2025 Regional Finals set them up as the third-place seed, behind first seed Billibilli Gaming and second seed Anyone's Legend, and they're aiming for the top spot.
Veteran Yu 'JackeyLove' Wen-Bo [pictured second from right] is currently the longest standing AD Carry in the entire LPL following five years with Top Esports, and a World Championship with Invictus Gaming in 2018. He's definitely one to watch to see if he can add to his legacy with another Worlds win.
