Why Did T1 Collapse Against AL at EWC 2025?

A Shocking Result, Even for AL Fans

T1’s unexpected and overwhelming defeat to Anyone’s Legend (AL) in the semifinals of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 has set off a firestorm of discussion within the League of Legends (LoL) community. Fans and analysts alike are divided over the real reason behind T1’s underwhelming performance: was it AL’s dominance, T1’s fatigue, poor drafts, or simply a lack of motivation?

Even AL supporters and LPL (League of Legends Pro League) fans expressed surprise at their team’s decisive sweep, not just in the final score but also in the sheer control they had over the match. While AL deserves full credit for their form, it was also clear that T1 played below their usual standards, raising questions about what really went wrong.

Suspected Causes of Defeat

Respected LCK English caster Wolf suggested that T1 might have lost motivation for the EWC, treating the tournament as a low-priority “cash-grab” event. He highlighted draft patterns in their matches, especially Game 2 against both MKOI and AL, where T1 selected easy-to-operate compositions but failed to execute properly.

Wolf’s analysis resonated with many. After all, T1 had an incredibly demanding first half of the season, from Road to MSI (Mid-Season Invitational) to the MSI 2025 Finals, and likely had little left in the tank. By the time EWC began, T1 had already fulfilled most of their competitive and financial goals, despite not winning a trophy.

Adding to the speculation, T1 had no real downtime after MSI. The grand finals concluded in the early hours of July 13 (Canada time), and the team was en route to Saudi Arabia almost immediately. Images show T1 arriving at EWC just two days later, on July 15, leaving them barely enough time to recover, let alone prepare.

This tight schedule has led many to argue that exhaustion and burnout were major contributors to the defeat.

Despite the criticisms leveled at T1, many fans, especially those supporting AL, believe the victory was simply the result of better gameplay. In both games, T1 failed to land any significant plays or turn the tide, while AL looked prepared, confident, and unshaken.

Conclusion

Ultimately, multiple factors likely played into T1’s collapse: AL‘s strong performance, T1’s fatigue, possibly waning motivation, and questionable strategic choices. Whatever the mix, the bottom line remains: T1 lost, and in convincing fashion.

With LCK Summer Split Phase 2 on the horizon, T1 must quickly regroup and refocus if they hope to bounce back in the latter half of 2025.

GK