Riot “Causes War” Related to T1 and HLE
Recently, Hanwha Life Esports has clinched the title of First Stand 2025. This achievement is a great milestone for this team, as many organizations in the region have long sought to regain international championship titles. However, Riot has made HLE’s victory somewhat controversial, sparking discussions about “causing war” if one were to say that T1 is being looked down upon.
To celebrate HLE’s victory, Riot’s official League of Legends page referred to this team as the “Best team in the world” and labeled Viper as the top player globally. Currently, while T1 cannot participate in the First Stand 2025, they remain the defending champions of the 2024 World Championship – the most prestigious tournament in the League of Legends community run by Riot.
Moreover, the First Stand 2025 tournament from Riot is still being evaluated as a competitive event under the Fearless Draft model. In addition to prize money, the championship also grants a spot in the MSI group stage. So far, First Stand features only five teams, including one team from a minor region (CFO) and two teams from lower-tier leagues (TES, TL). Therefore, First Stand is unlikely to be compared with the World Championship.
T1 Remains the Strongest Rival of HLE in Professional League of Legends
In fact, even when there are teams perceived to be weaker over the past three to four years, it cannot be denied: T1 and Gen.G are the two teams that could potentially push HLE into the heat of rivalry, if not to say they suffered defeats in the LCK Cup 2025. If T1 can secure a spot in international tournaments, Faker and his teammates will still be formidable contenders in the championship landscape.
Thus, T1 is not just a team that can be overlooked. Especially when they are still the defending champions of the World Championship and the most historically significant team in professional League of Legends.
