T1 Star Expresses Desire to Face Off Against IG at First Stand
During the current 2025 season, Riot Games has made several notable changes regarding major tournaments in the League of Legends (LoL) calendar. Notably, they have introduced a new tournament called the 2025 First Stand, featuring five teams competing for the championship across various regions. The tournament will allow teams to earn a spot in the 2025 MSI tournament without having to go through the Play-In stage. Although it is smaller in scale compared to previous international tournaments, the 2025 First Stand holds significant prestige, attracting top teams from regions like LCK, including T1, Gen.G, HLE, and others.
As a result, immediately after T1’s victory over NS in the playoffs of the LCK Cup 2025, there have been numerous inquiries regarding the First Stand tournament. In response, T1’s star jungler, Oner, expressed a strong desire to compete against IG in the first international tournament of 2025. His motivation stems from the fact that both Rookie and Oner are highly regarded players from the IG team.
“I think IG is a team with a strong mentality, and I really want to face them. However, players like TheShy, Rookie, and coach Daeny have deep knowledge of League of Legends. I’ve always wanted to compete against Rookie, someone I have encountered in the past, but there hasn’t been an opportunity for an official match. Rookie and I have always been strong contenders, yet T1 has rarely had the chance to face him. I’m really looking forward to the possibility of meeting Rookie and IG if we qualify for the 2025 First Stand,” Oner shared with the press after defeating NS.
LPL Fans Believe T1 Wants to “Farm Gold” by Choosing IG
Shortly after the interview snippet was shared, it became a hot topic among LPL fans. Many believe that T1’s choice of IG as an opponent is a strategic move aimed at “farming gold” and eliminating this team in the future. This perception arises from IG currently not receiving a high evaluation in LPL, despite their roster having potential that has not yet been realized.
It is crucial to note that IG 2025 comprises a roster filled with many stars, drawing significant attention from fans. However, the challenges in constructing a competitive team are evident, especially as they attempt to secure a spot in this year’s tournament against T1, which is expected to be a difficult task. It is hoped that both IG and T1 will strengthen further, achieving important victories in the future to engage in this “viewership-drawing” matchup.
