Faker's clutch play turns the tide, IG loses a must-win match! TheShy starts with a solo kill, but T1 reverses the game in the dragon team fight.

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The S14 World Championship qualifiers have officially started. In the first game between IG and T1, IG boldly revealed Qiyana and Rek'Sai. Although they were behind early, they continuously attacked mid-game to gain the upper hand and secured the Infernal Dragon Soul.

However, after securing the dragon soul, IG suffered a collapse in one decisive fight and lost the must-win game.

TheShy scores first blood with a solo kill but dies three times afterward.

In the crucial first game draft phase, IG on the blue side grabbed Ryze, then locked in a burst AD marksman for mid-game, paired with engage support Niko. In the second round, they revealed jungle Qiyana and top Rek'Sai to counter T1’s Nidalee. This lineup boasts strong burst potential, with the key focus on the synergy between jungle and mid lanes.

Editor’s note

T1 responded by targeting GALA’s champion pool, locking in a tempo-based composition centered on Taliyah. They focused on countering and limiting IG’s picks, using jungle Trundle to restrict TheShy’s tank choices. In the second round, they paired Rell with Alistar to enhance initiation and disruption capabilities.

At the start of the match, although IG’s bot lane didn’t secure lane priority immediately, they gained an advantage after leveling up. TheShy also established a health lead in the top lane and pulled off a flash tower dive solo kill.

However, T1 smartly swapped lanes, with Rell moving top to kill TheShy, who had previously solo killed Doran.

Editor’s note

Later, TheShy was caught in a 1v2 top lane gank. Meiko arrived to assist, but Oner from T1 secured another kill on TheShy. IG managed to get three Rift Scuttlers. T1 rushed the first dragon when IG’s jungler was top. TheShy was caught in the jungle again and died once more, but IG successfully secured the dragon afterward.

Rookie flashes in to kill Faker, IG secures the Infernal Dragon Soul.

Mid-game, T1 continued to swap lanes to avoid Nidalee and Rek'Sai matchups. IG’s overall tempo was suppressed, losing lane control top and bottom. Faker fought Rookie top, gaining a health advantage and nearly securing a solo kill. IG then attempted to take down the first tower, but TP support from three IG players enabled a successful kill on Oner.

Editor’s note

Oner’s misstep allowed IG to take Rift Herald. Rookie then flashed in to catch Faker off guard, with Qiyana’s help securing a kill and taking the first tower.

IG took the second dragon first, but T1 initiated a team fight and successfully killed the support.

Following that, T1 performed a multi-player tower dive to kill TheShy, but IG retaliated by heavily damaging Gumayusi mid and using Ryze’s ultimate to kill Rell with three players. At 20 minutes, T1 attempted a jungle ambush but failed and retreated. IG immediately started Baron, but T1 engaged, and after Wei’s exceptional kiting, the team fight ended in a 2-for-2 trade, with Baron stolen by T1.

IG quickly repositioned and secured the third dragon, then successfully defended the mid outer turret.

Both teams farmed steadily until the Infernal Dragon Soul respawned. Wei’s Qiyana flanked and heavily damaged Alistar, prompting T1 to concede the dragon soul. After IG secured it, they attempted to catch Faker but failed, leading to the next phase of offense and defense.

IG’s Baron mistake, Faker’s clutch play flips the game.

At 30 minutes, the situation rapidly changed. IG tried to flank with TheShy and force a kill on Sivir, but Faker’s crucial ultimate blocked the engage. TheShy flashed in to chase but was knocked up by Nidalee’s ultimate and died. With a numbers advantage, T1 contested Baron. Faker made a decisive play with a Taliyah knock-up, forcing Rookie’s Zhonyas and securing a kill.

After IG’s multiple deaths and losing Baron, T1 pushed together with the Baron buff. Rookie split-pushed two towers alone, while T1 took a successful fight to kill Meiko. TheShy engaged to trade one kill but was slain himself.

Faker then made another flash Taliyah knock-up hitting GALA, finishing a clutch play that led to a comeback and base push.

In my opinion, IG completely lost a match they should have won. Despite securing the Infernal Dragon Soul and having a 3,000 gold lead with both carries ahead in items, they made consecutive critical mistakes. After losing Baron, their mentality clearly faltered, allowing Faker to seize multiple opportunities and squander a winning position.

It can only be said that Faker remains ruthless in crucial moments on the world stage. After losing this key first game, the entire BO5 series and player morale were heavily affected. Failing to take this match makes the following games much more difficult.