DRX Complete Their Miracle Run As They Defeat T1 in Worlds 2022 Finals

Time Stamp: November 6, 2022 1:27 AM

The biggest cinderella story in Worlds history has a happy ending with DRX’s 3-2 victory over T1.

Worlds 2022 has been full of great storylines so far, and the Finals were not going to be an exception. While every League fan across the globe enjoyed following DRX’s underdog journey throughout every stage of Worlds, starting from Play-Ins, this looked like the ending, with T1 seeming unbeatable. 

T1 vs DRX (Game 1)

Comfort picks for all players for Game 1. Heimerdinger for BeryL, Yone for Zeus, and more importantly, Sylas for Zeka. And the first blood went toward the star mid laner after Pyosik’s back-to-back ganks. But T1 turned the momentum around after this death, they didn’t let DRX secure objectives, even stealing the first two drakes. During mid-game, DRX weren’t able to match T1’s aggressiveness. Plus T1 top side being too ahead meant T1 just had complete control. They got the Soul point, then they found a couple of picks to secure a very early Baron, extending the gold lead to nearly 10k. Even though DRX was able to delay the Soul, they gave up two inhibitors, and a lot of pressure, in return. No inhibitor meant DRX couldn’t contest either the Soul or the second Baron of T1. T1 started breaking the Nexus tower in front of their enemy, and they just destroyed DRX when they engaged one last time. A clean victory in the first game of the Worlds 2022 Finals.

  • Teams: T1 1 – 0 DRX
  • Time: 31:05
  • Kills: 15 – 5
  • Turrets: 11 – 0
  • Gold: 61.5k – 50.4k
  • Dragons: 4 – 1
  • Barons: 2 – 0

T1 vs DRX (Game 2)

The draft strategy was mainly similar for both teams in Game 2, except Oner was able to pick himself Graves and the bot lane of T1 went for an unusual Ashe/Lux lane. With these lanes, the early game was about getting lane pushes and putting pressure on the enemy for Herald. The first fight at the objective went deathless as T1 picked it up, but they found three kills just a minute later when covering a dive from DRX in the top lane. For a minute it looked like this play would be it, but as always DRX found their way back into the game by trading kills and objectives around the map, eventually securing the Soul point for themselves. Despite losing the next drake to T1, a great teamfight from DRX solo laners led to them acing T1 and securing a Baron. With Faker’s Viktor now scaled, T1 secured the Ocean Soul and were looking in control. But it was Deft who found a great pick on the enemy mid laner, and DRX pushed the small advantage they had to end the game and tie the series.

  • Teams: DRX 1 – 1 T1
  • Time: 46:05
  • Kills: 18 – 13
  • Turrets: 9 – 4
  • Gold: 80.5k – 79.6k
  • Dragons: 3 – 4
  • Barons: 1 – 0

T1 vs DRX (Game 3)

While the prio picks of Varus, Sylas and Graves remained the same during the Game 3 draft, we got our first tank matchup in the top lane for Zeus and Kingen. The game plan for T1 was bot lane domination, and they managed to establish an almost 50 cs lead for Gumayusi in the early game, despite giving up the first drake. Still, thanks to the first Herald and a couple of kills, DRX held the gold close. With no split pushers, the game turned into 5v5s in the mid lane. And despite their gold deficit, DRX kept finding angles to win fights and took the momentum in their hands. They even found two kills on Faker in two different critical moments, leading to two advantageous Baron situations. But in a very heartbreaking way for DRX, T1 just stole both Barons, first Oner then Gumayusi. The second Baron steal was the breaking point as the kills T1 got during the objective were enough for them to end the game, and take the series lead once again.

  • Teams: T1 2 – 1 DRX
  • Time: 32:10
  • Kills: 12 – 12
  • Turrets: 10 – 3
  • Gold: 60.1k – 53.8k
  • Dragons: 3 – 2
  • Barons: 2 – 0

T1 vs DRX (Game 4)

After a one-game break, back to the carries for both laners as the Varus priority continued down in the bot lane. But it backfired for DRX as T1 found the first 2v2 kill of the series in the bot lane for the first blood. But DRX play their best when behind, and it was true in this game as well. Mainly thanks to Kingen’s heroics, DRX found a couple of good skirmishes, the biggest one being the second Herald, where they were able to find kills and towers to turn the gold lead back in their favor. T1 couldn’t do anything during mid-game to get themselves back into the game, even their split pushing attempt was punished by DRX taking a Baron. Still, T1 thought they had no choice other than sending Zeus to push side lane, which gave the opportunity for DRX to break inhibitors and siege Nexus towers. And once they got to that stage, T1 had no damage to break the siege, and DRX tied the series even after a disastrous Game 3.

  • Teams: DRX 2 – 2 T1
  • Time: 28:38
  • Kills: 14 – 4
  • Turrets: 9 – 3
  • Gold: 54.8k – 46.4k
  • Dragons: 3 – 1
  • Barons: 1 – 0

T1 vs DRX (Game 5)

It’s Game 5, win or go home, and DRX’s answer to Varus who dominated the entire series was a Catilyn/Bard lane.

T1 started the game on the right foot with a level one invade and then a great mid lane gank from Oner for the first blood. While the other parts of the map were losing, it was once again Kingen that was giving his team hope, this time with a solo kill against Zeus. He was massive in securing his team early objectives as he even roamed for the second drake as well. Both teams were trying to play towards their strength in the mid-game, DRX with Kingen and T1 with Oner’s side lane picks. Throughout all, DRX was in the driver’s seat. They even found a great mid lane fight with Teleports and got four kills. They went towards the Baron, but DRX’s greatest enemy this series struck again, a Gumayusi steal. While Baron was enough to bring T1 into the game, they couldn’t get a significant advantage and the objective dances continued, ending with the Elder Dragon. DRX secured the Elder and managed to thwart T1’s backdoor attempt. T1 solo laner is dead meant no one could’ve stopped DRX from ending the game, cementing themselves as the Worlds 2022 Champions.

  • Teams: T1 2 – 3 DRX
  • Time: 42:03
  • Kills: 10 – 19
  • Turrets: 8 – 8
  • Gold: 72.1k – 74.7k
  • Dragons: 2 – 5
  • Barons: 2 – 0

Kingen is the Worlds 2022 Finals MVP

All DRX members had their moments throughout Worlds and even in the Finals. But when the time comes to choose an MVP for this series, I don’t think the choice was too hard. The top laner Kingen was seen by most as the weak link ahead of the match, especially against T1’s Zeus. But with the pressure he created in the game, with his solo kills and massive teamfighting, Kingen was the biggest reason DRX won the trophy today. So it wasn’t surprising to see him awarded the Worlds 2022 Finals MVP award.

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Image credit: Riot Games

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