T1 Sweeps TES 3-0 in Worlds 2022 Quarterfinals
T1 demonstrated their superiority over TES in a dominant 3-0 quarterfinal victory at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. The gap between the two teams was evident across drafting, individual laning, macro play and teamfighting.
The 2022 League of Legends World Championship quarterfinal match between China’s Top Esports (TES) and Korea’s T1 ended in a shockingly one-sided 3-0 sweep in favor of T1. From champion select to the Rift, T1 outclassed their opponents in nearly every facet of the game.
In Game 1, T1 first-picked Caitlyn for Gumayusi while banning signature comfort picks from TES like Lucian and Nami. TES oddly responded by first-picking Renekton for 369 instead of prioritizing stronger meta picks. This set the tone for a draft gap that plagued TES throughout the series.
Individually, T1 won their matchups convincingly. Zeus’s Jayce bullied 369’s Renekton in the top lane, while Faker’s control mages held mid priority over Creme’s assassins. Gumayusi and Keria’s bot lane also handily won the 2v2. TES’s over-emphasis on scaling picks meant they lacked any lane to play through.
Macro-wise, TES looked completely lost. They constantly grouped up as 5 to try and force plays, but T1 deftly avoided full 5v5 teamfights, instead picking off TES members in smaller skirmishes. Oner in particular punished TES’s lack of vision control, repeatedly finding flanks to tear them apart.
In the end, T1 closed out each game in under 30 minutes, only giving up a single kill the entire series in one of the most dominant international best-of-5 performances ever. TES simply looked outclassed in every way.
Questions will certainly be asked of TES going forward. Their drafts prioritized comfort over meta power picks, their laners struggled mightily in isolation, and their trademark early aggression and skirmishing never got off the ground against T1’s controlled style. For a roster featuring three Worlds winners and an MSI champion, this level of performance is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, T1 look absolutely terrifying heading into semifinals. From Zeus to Faker to Gumayusi, every member is performing at a world-class level individually. Their understanding of the meta and ability to punish mistakes is unrivaled. They have to be the odds-on favorite to lift the Summoner’s Cup in San Francisco.
Ultimately, this series demonstrated the massive gulf that currently exists between the top Korean and Chinese teams. One has to wonder if the LPL teams are capable of challenging a T1 squad that seems to be levels above everyone else. On this form, it’s hard to bet against Faker and company going the distance once again.