Keria Admits the Reality of T1’s Drafting Choices
After T1’s loss to Gen.G, it’s clear that both fans and analysts alike have recognized the significant drafting mistakes T1 made. Regardless of the current skill level or form of the players on both teams, allowing Gen.G—always a strong team and a top contender for the Worlds 2025 championship—to take hold of some of the strongest power picks is already a major issue. Not to mention, T1 allowed their players to use underwhelming champions, and recently, Keria himself expressed his dissatisfaction.
Specifically, Keria stated: “We had anticipated that they would pick Poppy. But the problem is that after locking in the picks, we realized that there were too many champions that needed to be banned. To be frank, we weren’t sure which champions to prioritize in the 4th and 5th ban phases. This drafting phase was really difficult for us.”
T1 May Still Need Improvement but Must Accelerate
Clearly, Keria’s revelations show that T1 has not reached their “max ping” state, primarily in terms of their performance and drafting at Worlds 2025. They might want to experiment, but they may also be genuinely flustered when facing opponents of equal or superior skill. The fact is, the losses to Gen.G and previously to CFO have put T1 in a position with no way out.
It’s very possible that T1 will “capitalize” on the match against 100T and perhaps the remaining match in the Swiss round if they can overcome the opponent from LTA to continue experimenting when the opportunity arises. But T1 needs to speed up, as they are now on the brink, and each match could potentially be the final one for the reigning champions.