For an opponent like Kwangdong Freecs (KDF), a victory for T1 is not particularly challenging. Fans are more concerned about how convincingly Faker and his teammates will win. In fact, T1 did not disappoint the audience with a solid performance from all players, especially AD Carry Gumayusi.
Notably, during the match, there was a moment when Gumayusi was focused on farming minions in the Bottom Lane when Zeri and Yuumi attacked him. With just two abilities from Zeri and Yuumi, Aphelios in Gumayusi’s hands lost up to 80% of his health. However, thanks to his skills and the power of the champion Aphelios, Gumayusi successfully turned the tables and took down both opponents.
Witnessing Gumayusi’s top-notch play, T1 fans were undoubtedly thrilled. The opponents that Gumayusi took down were Zeri, a champion that has been dominating the Bottom Lane. Moreover, Zeri was accompanied by Yuumi, a champion also considered a “200 years of experience” creation by Riot. Ignoring the skill gap, the reality of a 2v1 situation not only showcased Gumayusi’s skill and composure but also highlighted the “overpowered” nature of the champion Aphelios.
The champion Aphelios has been labeled as Riot’s “200 years of experience” since MSI 2023. Viewers after witnessing Gumayusi’s play couldn’t help but exclaim in frustration: “Just like during MSI 2023, when everyone rushed at Aphelios and got taken down one by one by this champion.” Previously, in Riot’s selection of the top 5 plays of the week, 4 out of 5 were from the champion Aphelios.
The story of Aphelios’s power will certainly continue to give headaches to the League of Legends community and Riot for a long time. However, for talented AD Carries, a strong champion is one thing. If not used well or unable to maximize the champion’s potential, even with “200 years of experience,” achieving good results will be difficult.