For the first time, a coach was fired while the season was still ongoing
For the first time in the history of LCK in general and T1 in particular, a coach had to leave the team due to being fired while the season was only halfway through. This “achievement” of Coach Daeny is something no coach or team would want to replicate. It indicates that the internal situation of that team is extremely unstable and will certainly have a significant impact on the players’ morale.
The discord between Coach Daeny and some key members of T1, including the legend Faker, was evident when the “Demon King” frequently appeared on the bench – something that even coaches like kkOma or the strictest ones like Coach Kim never dared to do. As a result, when the team’s symbol was banished to the bench and the performance did not improve, Coach Daeny had to pay the price for causing internal rifts within T1.
However, shortly after that, the team made a strong “comeback.” The interim coaches Moment and Stardust connected extremely well with the players. With Faker regaining his form, T1 surged to the finals of the LCK Summer 2021 and the semifinals of Worlds 2021. Despite leaving empty-handed, given the previous instability, T1’s performance was commendable. But surely, T1 fans, especially Faker, will never forget the “memories” of the LCK Summer 2021 this time.
For the first time, an LPL team lost all matches in the second round of a Worlds group stage
And the team holding this “undesirable” record is FunPlus Phoenix. No one could have guessed that a Phoenix, the runner-up of LPL Summer 2021 and a contender to dethrone the dominance of LCK teams, would have such a miserable and weak Worlds. The truth is that FPX is no longer themselves. Doinb, Tian… and even Nuguri, Crisp all underperformed and were eliminated rightfully.
After FPX’s defeat, it became clear that the brief era of this team effectively ended after they lost their ticket to Worlds 2020. Nuguri’s presence did not help FPX and became one of the reasons for the Phoenix’s failure. And as in the legend, perhaps the Phoenix can only be reborn after completely burning away to become a pile of ashes.
EDG wins Worlds 2021 for the first time
As one of the most traditional teams in the LPL region and the League of Legends world in general, Edward Gaming had previously been “unlucky” with the Worlds trophy. But all that changed in the 2021 season. Not only did they head to Iceland as the number one seed (after winning LPL Summer 2021), but they were also the only LPL representative left standing in the semifinals of Worlds 2021. Just as all fans thought that DWG KIA would become the second team in League of Legends history to defend their Worlds title, EDG said no. Defeating DK 3-2, the LPL representative claimed their first-ever championship in the highest tournament in the League of Legends world.
This achievement by EDG sent shockwaves throughout the LPL. Before the finals, all of China rallied behind EDG. After the victory, EDG became heroes of the populous nation. The championship was even more meaningful for EDG as they defeated all three powerful representatives of the LCK during their journey (winning against T1 in the group stage, defeating Gen.G Esports in the semifinals, and taking down DK in the finals).
Additionally, EDG’s victory serves as a “revenge” for Flandre and the LPL representative against SofM and T1, making this Worlds trophy even more significant. With no major changes to the roster except for parting ways with Coach KenZhu, EDG will still be a formidable team in the 2022 season.
For the first time, LPL witnesses the simultaneous disbandment of 2 Worlds champions
Coincidentally, both Invictus Gaming and FPX chose the end of the 2021 season to officially disband their entire roster that had previously won the Worlds crown in 2018 and 2019. Besides the fact that this was the time when the players’ contracts expired, more importantly, both IG and FPX had become “exhausted” and needed a disbandment to truly revive strongly.
The players from both teams have already chosen their new paths. In the upcoming 2022 season, will they return stronger or continue the chain of disappointing performances? The answer can only be found when the teams officially enter the new season.