The Epic Steals that Defined the 2022 League of Legends World Championship Finals
The final series of the 2022 League of Legends World Championship will be remembered as one of the best in League history. T1 and DRX battled it out in a five-game series filled with mechanical outplays, intense teamfights, and captivating storylines.
DRX’s jungler, Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon, almost cost his team the series multiple times by having five neutral objectives stolen away. But it wasn’t T1’s jungler, Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun, who made these crucial steals. Instead, AD carry phenom Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong stepped up with heroic plays.
Game One: Gumayusi’s Unforgettable Arrow
T1’s Gumayusi made the first steal of the series. During the early stages of the first game, he shocked everyone by shooting a Varus arrow that stole the Cloud Drake right under DRX’s noses.
Game Two: Oner’s Flashy Combo
Although it wasn’t a steal from Pyosik, DRX’s jungler, his positioning mistake led to a teamfight at the dragon pit. While the fight was ongoing, T1 seized the opportunity and with a smite advantage, Oner pulled off a flawless Graves combo to secure the Ocean Drake.
Game Three: Desperation and Missed Smites
In the third game, 24 minutes in, DRX attempted to secure Baron Nashor to extend their lead. However, during the skirmish, T1 poked DRX down, and as DRX’s Zeka successfully Azir shuffled Oner away, Pyosik missed his smite. This allowed Oner to flash over the wall and steal Baron from DRX.
Game Three: Gumayusi’s Heart-Shattering Accuracy
Later in the same game, DRX had a chance to secure Baron with T1’s jungler dead. However, Pyosik missed smite again and dropped Baron’s health to 217 HP. In perfect synchronization, Gumayusi’s Varus arrow stole the Baron right from under DRX’s grasp.
Game Five: Gumayusi’s Defibrillator Arrow
During a crucial teamfight for DRX, Gumayusi hit an unbelievable Varus arrow that turned the tide. With T1 down three players, Gumayusi’s steal not only secured Baron but also revived his team’s hopes of winning. Once again, Pyosik missed smite, allowing Gumayusi to claim the buff.
In the end, DRX emerged as the winners, lifting the Summoner’s Cup. Despite the miraculous steals, Pyosik can view this tournament as a valuable learning experience for future international events.