The recent period has likely been the most tumultuous phase in the history of T1, even back when the organization was still known as SKT T1. The decision to fire a coach mid-season was unprecedented for this team, but ultimately, that move proved to be correct as T1’s performance improved markedly.
They secured 3 victories and 1 defeat since the firing of the coaching duo Daeny and Zefa, and more importantly, they shed the conservative playstyle of “turtling to wait for late-game” that was heavily criticized during the tenure of these two coaches.
In the waiting room before the match against KT, the atmosphere among the T1 team was relatively tense and awkward. Canna even lay down, exhausted from the string of “dramas” that have hit him and the team over the past year.
However, intertwined with the fatigue and confusion, there were also rays of positive light. Coaches Stardust and Moment – two members of the coaching staff appointed to replace Daeny and Zefa for the rest of the season – quickly took actions to encourage their players.
Both Stardust and Moment have spent a long time as part of the coaching staff of T1, especially Moment, who has been active for nearly two years from the main team to the youth team. And of course, these two coaches also understand the reasons why coaches Daeny and Zefa failed in their mission to bring T1 back to the top.
Right before the match, both coaches had encouraging words for all the players. There were no tactical directives; the final message they wanted their players to focus on was team spirit – everyone for one, and above all, preparing mentally to face the challenge as comfortably as possible.
“Coach Stardust: It’s a bit cramped here, but everyone come here and raise your hands. Today is a new beginning for us, plus, this is also the debut match for little Oner at LoL Park, so let’s give it our all. Play as comfortably as possible, guys!
Coach Moment: Let’s enjoy the game, everyone!”
With a team that just had an unstable performance and a recent coaching change, not many held high expectations for T1’s victory against KT Rolster. However, the reality was that everything exceeded expectations, as Faker and his teammates obliterated their long-time rivals in less than 50 minutes of gameplay.
The psychological barriers of the players were genuinely lifted, leading to impressive performances that secured victories against DWG KIA and Afreeca Freecs. More importantly, the “enjoy the game” message that Coach Moment conveyed to his players was not just empty words for publicity. In fact, in the four matches of T1 after Coach Daeny, captain Faker was allowed to participate in discussing tactics and was tasked with evaluating each specific opponent, and conveying strategic plans to his teammates before the matches.
Stardust and Moment, after all, are not yet veteran coaches, so having Faker’s support is essential. In return, the T1 players were able to play in a more relaxed atmosphere, no longer constrained by unreasonable strategies, and perhaps, in a somewhat ironic assessment from many Korean fans: “The most important thing is that no one blames their players after each loss anymore.”
It is still too early to assert that the “interim” period of Stardust and Moment will bring success to T1, but at least, they may provide fans with a more positive experience, bringing T1 back as a unified entity, listening to the thoughts and wishes of the players.
T1’s current playstyle still has many gaps and shortcomings, but at least this is the way the players want to play, to express themselves in the way they believe is best.