The match between T1 and Bilibili Gaming was the highlight of Round 2 in the group stage of MSI 2024. However, even though the power dynamics seemed almost equal on paper, the performance of the two teams was completely opposite. BLG demonstrated how comprehensive they currently are, and their annihilation of T1 is the clearest evidence of that. Throughout the three winning games, BLG tightly controlled the match right from the draft phase. Meanwhile, T1 only showcased their ability when they were matched with champion picks that suited them, and Faker was not “read”.
However, what is notable is that the image of Faker after the match truly may have made even the toughest fans who were trying to get over the loss feel heartbroken. He sat quietly alone in the waiting room, with a gaze filled with sadness and confusion. Faker also bit his lip lightly to hold back his emotions before standing up to regroup with his teammates. The clip, which was only about 6 seconds long, attracted thousands of interactions, mostly expressing empathy and support for Faker and T1 as they still have a chance in the upcoming losers’ bracket.
– “It’s okay to lose; things always happen this way. Everyone had high hopes for both teams, and they performed well, but one team still has to lose. Good luck next time (from a BLG fan)”
– “That’s just sports. You played better, and we need to improve many things. Good luck in the next match”
– “He will bounce back. Everything is still okay even though he has had some really tough days. And Faker is just human. He has worked hard to become the best player, and he will definitely come back stronger”
In fact, BLG seems to have grasped the key to T1’s power, which lies in Faker. It is no surprise that they dedicated many bans to the Mid Lane champion pool of T1, and with an additional champion used by Knight, Faker lost 6 choices that could help T1 execute their playstyle. And no matter how hard he tried to perform, being “pushed” into ineffective champions like Veigar or Akali in an unsuitable situation clearly made it impossible for Faker to do much for his teammates.
The image of Faker looking confused and despondent may be even worse than the loss itself for T1 fans. But this is a normal human emotion, especially when Faker has tried his best but could not bring victory to the team. However, Faker probably understands that he is the backbone of the team and needs to regain his spirit quickly because T1’s chances are not over, and the team’s journey is just a bit longer now.