Heading into the League of Legends Worlds 2022 semifinals, everyone knew that the match between JD Gaming and T1 would be a barnburner. With both teams excelling in teamfighting, the teams were expected to go to war and that’s exactly what happened. With there being nearly a kill a minute throughout the four-game series, it was T1 who took down JDG to advance to the grand finals.
WELCOME TO THE #WORLDS2022 FINAL, @T1LOL! pic.twitter.com/omS0yDW8Jb
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 30, 2022
JDG vs T1: Worlds 2022 semifinals breakdown
Game 1 of the Worlds 2022 semifinals was an instant classic. With the series coming in to be decided by which team can push their strengths the most, JDG’s Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok was carrying that banner while Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong did the same for T1 in expected fashion. With both teams trading blow for blow with both teams at a standstill. But when looking at the other lanes, especially top, in the anticipated Choi “Zeus” Woo-je versus Bai “369” Jia-Hao matchup, it was 369 who made his presence felt. Ultimately, he was the difference maker as JDG took Game 1.
"uh oh" pic.twitter.com/ATX7fJxFVi
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 29, 2022
JDG got ahead of themselves in Game 2, putting their hyper-carry top laner 369 on a cheeky Malphite counter-pick that did absolutely nothing to stop the onslaught of Zeus on Yone, another hyper-carry champion. Kanavi had another good game, but it wasn’t enough. T1 tied up the series one apiece.
ouch pic.twitter.com/IQJRaBhEaR
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 29, 2022
Game 3 saw JDG once again not give 369 a hyper-carry champion but at least they gave him the strongest early-game top laner in the game Renekton. Unfortunately, Zeus was allowed to play Gangplank; and although JDG kept the game close, the sheer outscale potential caught up to JDG as T1 picked up the second game behind Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s Ryze and Gumayusi on Lucian.
With their backs against the wall, JDG put all their chips on Wang “Hope” Jie playing Jhin for only the fifth time in his career. The Jhin pick was widely useless; Gumayusi ended up being the reason for the win on Varus. 369 on Sejuani and Kanavi on Bel’veth were not nearly enough to offset the bot gap. T1 won three straight games at the Worlds 2022 semifinals to advance to their first finals in five years.
JDG’s run was good, considering many of their players had career years, but all good things come to an end. The last hope of the League Pro League means that the finals will be guaranteed to be an all-League Champions Korea finals as T1 awaits the victor of Gen.G and DRX.
