T1 have locked their spot at the 2025 League of Legends World Championship after securing a top-four finish in the LCK Summer Playoffs. The qualification guarantees mid laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok his 10th Worlds appearance, making him the first player in history to reach double digits.
The LCK receives four slots at this year’s World Championship. Even if T1 finish fourth in their region, they’re guaranteed to compete at Worlds. The fourth seed might need to face the LPL’s fourth team in a qualifier match, but that game counts as part of the World Championship.
Faker’s achievement puts him further ahead of the pack. Maple sits at nine Worlds appearances, while a group including Caps, CoreJJ, Ruler, Impact, and Xiaohu have each made it eight times. Veterans like Deft, Doublelift, and Jensen also reached eight appearances but won’t add to their totals this year due to retirement or military service.
What makes Faker’s record even more impressive is his consistency at the tournament. In his nine previous Worlds appearances, he has never finished below the semifinals. He won the championship four times (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023) and reached two more finals (2017, 2022).
T1’s exact seeding remains undecided. They face Gen.G this Sunday in a match that will determine whether they enter as the third or fourth LCK representative. The third seed goes directly to the Swiss Stage, while the fourth seed must first beat the LPL’s fourth team.
Faker first appeared at Worlds in 2013 as a rookie and immediately won the tournament. He missed only three years when SKT/T1 failed to qualify (2014, 2018, 2020). His current contract runs through 2029, suggesting this record could grow significantly.
