The morning of July 8th (Vietnam time) was truly an unfortunate day for fans of T1. Just before the showdown with their arch-rivals Gen.G, the team’s head coach Bengi bid farewell to T1. Notably, this is the second time T1 has had to “change captains mid-stream” in the last three years. However, this time, it was Bengi resigning of his own accord. Thus, T1 had to enter the match against Gen.G without both their official head coach and captain, mid-laner Faker.
It can be said that difficulties are surrounding T1 in the LCK Summer 2023. Alongside Gen.G and Dplus KIA, KT Rolster is now emerging as a formidable force with a long unbeaten streak. Meanwhile, Hanwha Life Esports is also constantly threatening the top spots on the leaderboard. At this moment, about four to five names are already secured for a spot in the playoffs unless something extraordinary happens.
However, among the teams, there is perhaps no one facing difficulties like T1. In fact, Coach Bengi’s resignation was beyond the predictions or imagination of anyone in the League of Legends community. The reason being, despite Faker being injured, he is expected to return in just over a week. T1 still has a chance to compete for the title, but no one understands why Coach Bengi decided to leave so suddenly.
Some opinions suggest that T1 might be considering “throwing” the 2023 season. They can still secure a spot in the playoffs as well as a ticket to the 2023 World Championship (Worlds). However, according to some fans, T1 might be looking to undergo a significant overhaul and is ready to give up the current season. Moreover, trying to compete might affect Faker or Gumayusi (who has revealed that he has fainted twice while training). Ahead, besides Worlds 2023, Faker also has to participate in the Asian Games (Asiad).
If T1 ends up empty-handed this 2023 season, it wouldn’t be too surprising. However, the players themselves will still have to fight with all their might, even if they may not place too much weight on title ambitions. After all, it’s the best way to show their appreciation for the fans who have always supported the team and players until the very end.