Preview of the semi-finals of the 2024 World Cup: Weibo vs. BLG and Gen.G vs. T1

It's a battle full of intense rivalries in the semi-finals of the 2024 World Cup.

As the dust settles on the battlefields of the 2024 League of Legends World Championship, only four teams remain ready to claim their legacy.

In a semi-final, China's powerhouse, Bilibili Gaming, the LPL's number one seed, will face LPL number four seed Weibo Gaming.

On the other side of the Rift, Gen.G, the LCK's second-seeded but undisputed top team all season, is preparing for another legendary showdown against the legendary fourth-seeded T1. The stakes have never been higher; Regional pride, years of rivalry and a ticket to the ultimate showdown are at stake.

Here's a breakdown of the games as the best teams in the world head towards an epic grand final showdown.

Weibo Gaming vs Bilibili Gaming

The rivalry between Weibo Gaming and Bilibili Gaming has become one of the fiercest in recent years, marked by a series of high-risk clashes and intense competition. Since 2022, these two giants have met in 35 games, with BLG claiming a whopping 23 wins.

In 2024, BLG only sharpened its fangs and defeated Weibo in every single encounter. From their 10 games this year, BLG didn't lose a single game and won both Bo5 series with confident 3-0 results, leaving Weibo behind.

Weibo came into this season with high hopes, with mid laner Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao in charge and strong players Breathe and Tarzan to bolster their ranks, but they struggled to counter BLG’s relentless play style.

BLG, meanwhile, has built a fortress-like roster with star mid laner Zhuo “Knight” Ding and one of the world’s best top laners Chen “Bin” Ze-Bin and elevated their play in the LPL to an untouchable level.

But history has shown that Weibo can be unpredictable at World Cups. Fans remember last year's sensational semi-final, in which Weibo, against all odds, defeated BLG in a thrilling 3-2 series.

This year, both teams were on the verge of elimination at Worlds with a 1-2 finish in the Swiss Stage, but managed to survive and qualify for the Knockout Stage, where Weibo Gaming faced another strong LPL team, LNG Esports 3, -1 caused a surprise, while BLG seemed unstoppable and defeated LCK first seed Hanwha Life Esports 3-1.

Could Weibo pull off another miracle in 2024? Or will BLG return the favor and punch their ticket to the final? The weight of an entire region depends on the result.

Gen.G vs. T1

Few rivalries in League of Legends history carry as much weight as Gen.G and T1 – a clash so iconic that every encounter feels like a grand finale. Since 2020, these two titans have competed in nearly 100 games, creating a rivalry that grows more intense with every win and loss.

Since the summer of 2022, Gen.G has been T1's Kryptonite, regularly claiming national titles and finally earning his first international victory at the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational, where T1 placed third.

That dominance has continued, with Gen.G defeating T1 in every head-to-head matchup this year, including a thrilling 3-2 win in the Spring Finals. Now, in 2024, Gen.G sits at the top while T1 relentlessly chases.

Gen.G's roster is a powerhouse with one of the best junglers in the world, 2020 World Champion Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu, as well as elite support player Son “Lehends” Si-woo and their standout mid laner and ever since Face of the 2022 team, Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon.

Although Hanwha Life Esports blocked their ambitions for a “golden path” to victory in the summer finals, Gen.G fought back on the Swiss stage before ultimately escaping a 3-2 upset at the hands of FlyQuest in a thrilling quarterfinal series.

However, Gen.G's track record on the international stage has often faltered under pressure – a phase in which T1 has traditionally excelled.

After years of near misses and heartache, T1 won the Summoner's Cup in 2023, lifting it in front of their home crowd. Still, 2024 was a roller coaster ride as T1 struggled to secure fourth place in the LCK in a season marked by ups and downs.

Still, the core of T1 – Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Moon “Oner” Hyeon-ju, the legendary Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok – remains resolute to demonstrate their skills.

Even T1's jungler Oner admitted that he didn't want to meet Gen.G in the semifinals, but promised to do his best to “give fans an unforgettable game.” With Faker at the helm, T1's desire to turn the tide against its biggest rivals is stronger than ever.

Will T1 finally break the cycle and defeat the team that has repeatedly stopped them? Or will Gen.G break their world curse and march steadfastly and unstoppably toward the Summoner's Cup?