Home to Legends
First, it goes without saying that T1 and Weibo Gaming are currently the two teams with the most renowned players in the League of Legends scene. When it comes to Faker, there’s no need for discussion. He is not only a symbol of the League of Legends scene but also of the entire esports industry in South Korea. The salary during the recent transfer window when Faker re-signed with T1 is considered to be significantly higher than that of athletes in traditional sports.
Currently, Faker is one of the oldest players in the LCK. Specifically in the recent match against Nongshim RedForce, Faker was the oldest competitor on the field. He has witnessed the birth and development of the LCK, marking South Korea’s dominance at the World Championship. In short: Faker is an icon, and just the name Faker has an allure to all League of Legends fans.
In the last transfer window of the 2021 season, WBG brought in two names, TheShy and SwordArt. However, while SwordArt is still on the bench, TheShy is slowly showing signs of adaptation. Along with SofM, he is considered one of the “two gods” by LPL fans. Notably, SofM also has support from fans back home in Vietnam. While SofM has never won a championship, his influence is indisputable. It can be said that not just Vietnamese fans, but every time SofM competes, all League of Legends fans around the world are watching. After that, like Faker, TheShy and SofM will also receive praise or criticism depending on WBG’s performance in each match.
The Right Decision to Part Ways with Their Top Lane Despite the Controversy
In the recent transfer window at the end of the 2021 season, both T1 and WBG parted ways with their top laners in a very public manner. If Canna’s departure was due to issues surrounding verbal agreements and salary disputes, Bin’s situation was more technical. The former WBG star could not sync with SofM and lacked the ability for WBG to build a playstyle around him. As for Canna, after the transfer controversies, he lost favor with T1 fans and even could not join his desired team, DWG KIA.
But then, everything calmed down. T1 promoted Zeus to fill Canna’s position while WBG brought in the well-known name TheShy. What followed, as evidenced by the match results, is that all four names—Zeus, Canna, TheShy, and Bin—have shown their value. Currently, it can be said that these transfers, while noisy, were necessary for both the teams and the individual players involved.
Both Teams Have a Strong Bot Lane Duo
If T1 faced WBG now, the result of the confrontation between the two bot lane duos might be the deciding factor. T1 possesses what can be considered the strongest bot lane in the LCK right now: Gumayusi – Keria. Although they are young, both display incredible synergy. Keria is famous for his “super unique” champion picks, while Gumayusi, on a good day, can decimate all opponents, regardless of their experience. It can be said that T1’s current second place in the rankings owes much to this bot duo, especially as the current meta favors Marksmen.
On the WBG side, there’s no need to say much; Huanfeng is the most consistent performer. Even SofM, TheShy, or Angel have their ups and downs, but Huanfeng is extremely rare in that regard. Even in losses, Huanfeng maintains good laning phases and teamfight handling. However, “one swallow does not make a summer”; Huanfeng alone cannot save WBG in matches, as seen in games against Bilibili Gaming or game 1 losses to Victory Five.
Both Teams Are Not Perfect
It can be said that one of the most appealing aspects of T1 and WBG is that both teams occasionally have very… hard-fought victories, not perfect, even against weaker opponents. For instance, WBG has proven how they can annihilate V5, but they also surprised many by allowing Rookie and his teammates to dominate in game 1. As for T1, they can crush Kwangdong Freecs but let Fredit BRION become the first team to destroy their Nexus. Even Faker, SofM, and TheShy have their moments of confusion during matches that leave everyone wondering what they are thinking.
But it is precisely these “imperfections” that make T1 and WBG’s matches incredibly unpredictable. No one knows if T1 or WBG will win until the match is over. With the mentality of “win when they want to win, lose when they want to lose,” T1 and WBG are currently two of the most exciting names in the League of Legends scene. Every match they play brings a rollercoaster of emotions, keeping the audience on their toes.