In recent days, it has truly been an unforgettable time for the fans of T1. From being a team that was expected to compete for the championship, the T1 roster has continuously faced defeats after the loss of Faker, even against a weak opponent like DRX. Moreover, just days after the loss to “Blue Dragon”, head coach Bengi decided to submit his resignation. This has plunged T1 deeper into crisis while Faker is still in a resting phase.
Coming up, T1 will have to face opponents including Nongshim RedForce and Dplus KIA. Among these two names, DK is considered a tougher rival with a much higher chance of defeating T1. Meanwhile, NS has always been in crisis in recent years. However, at least this team currently has the strongest lineup and moreover, they have a good psychological advantage after recently winning against Liiv SANDBOX. Fortunately for T1, before clashing with the LCK Spring 2023 runner-up, NS will have to face the reigning champion Gen.G.
Nevertheless, many viewers, especially T1 fans, are thinking of a not-so-bright scenario and believe that T1’s “curse” is returning. Specifically, throughout the history of this team, from its time as SKT T1 to the present, T1 has never been able to participate in a World Championship held in their home country, South Korea.
Specifically, at Worlds 2014 (held in Seoul), T1 had two teams qualify, SKT S and SKT K, but neither could win the championship. Subsequently, SKT K lost in the regional qualifiers and had to watch the tournament from home. Meanwhile, the Samsung duo along with NaJin White Shield participated with the championship going to Samsung White. At Worlds 2018 (held in Incheon), SKT T1 only placed 7th in the LCK Summer group stage before losing in the very first match of the regional qualifiers. Notably, the team that defeated SKT T1 in that match was Gen.G.
At this moment, the chances of T1 advancing past the group stage as well as qualifying for Worlds 2023 are still quite high. However, the historical factors are definitely worth considering. In the event that Faker returns and performs well, T1 could achieve a favorable result, but competing for the championship will be extremely challenging given the current roster. Perhaps, a spot in Worlds 2023 will be a more attainable goal for T1 in this chaotic situation.