Faker’s genius moment rather than a mistake by Zeka
In the recent showdown between HLE and T1, when nearly all fans had already anticipated a deciding third game and HLE merely needed to play defensively to secure victory, Zeka executed a bold idea with a Shurima Shuffle that aimed to finish off T1. However, shortly after, Zeka was taken down, HLE lost 4 members, and T1 clinched a 2-0 victory after a rush to end the game in the Bottom Lane. Zeka was immediately met with a barrage of criticism, but perhaps the community has forgotten one crucial point: Faker should be the focal point of this play.
In that decisive moment, Zeka had every reason to believe he could execute a perfect Shurima Shuffle: at least 3 or 4 members of T1 were clustered in one area, Keria had used his ultimate, Gumayusi’s short attack range couldn’t compare to Zeka or Viper, and Zeka still had Flash available. However, Zeka failed to account for one critical situation: Faker landing his Seismic Shove at the pivotal moment.
For Faker, he knows the champion Azir all too well, and in just a split second before Zeka could unleash his ultimate, Faker made a genius move that knocked back HLE’s player and caused Zeka to miss his timing. When Zeka positioned himself too close to T1 players, especially Gumayusi, the task for T1 became exceedingly easy. HLE’s collapse and subsequent defeat was merely a “domino effect.”
Faker and T1 Also Showed Their Grit
In that decisive moment, T1, especially Faker, remained calm enough to execute a “comeback” play, which showcases the resilience of championship contenders. They were not hasty and were willing to wait for the opponent to make a mistake, even though at that point, there were probably less than 5 minutes left in the third match.
Stability, tenacity, and mental toughness are currently T1’s formidable weapons. Based on what they have shown, the upcoming T1 vs. Gen.G match next week will be highly anticipated and can affirm both teams’ determination to conquer the remainder of the season.