Viper Reveals HLE Has Completely Figured Out T1
In contrast to the one-sided match earlier, the clash between T1 and HLE recently was truly a spectacular display from both teams. However, HLE proved their mettle at the crucial moment in game 5, pulling off an emotional “comeback” and defeating T1 with a score of 3-2. This victory secured HLE a spot in the second round of the playoffs, where they will face another tough opponent named Gen.G.
Immediately after the match, questions arose about what strategy HLE used to defeat T1. This stemmed from the fact that T1 seemed to have adopted a very different playstyle compared to last season by incorporating Smash into their main roster. In response to this, HLE’s star ADC Viper revealed that despite T1’s personnel changes, the essence of their gameplay remains unchanged as it heavily relies on Oner and Keria.
“To face T1, we utilized the Fearless Draft format to gradually strip away their comfort picks. Furthermore, we also researched that T1 would be very formidable if Oner and Keria were allowed to play comfortably without pressure. If we could prevent these two players from moving freely and influencing lanes, we would gain a significant advantage. And in reality, HLE managed to maintain focus to pressure T1 and secure the win,” Viper shared with the media.
T1 Needs a Lot of Improvement to Adapt in the Future
Just as Viper mentioned, T1’s current gameplay is heavily dependent on the mobility and impact of Oner and Keria. Both of T1’s victories against HLE came from Oner and Keria moving freely and applying significant pressure on the opponents. Meanwhile, T1 appeared extremely passive when these players were pressured by the enemy or made mistakes. Game 5 is a prime example of this, as Oner missed several crucial ultimate abilities with Skarner, while Keria’s Soraka made little impact.
With HLE’s recent defeat, T1 no longer has a chance to compete in the LCK Cup 2025 and has lost the opportunity to participate in the upcoming First Stand tournament. This means that T1 will not return to competition until the LCK Road to MSI (scheduled to start in April). The upcoming month will be crucial for T1 as they need to improve their strategic diversity and champion pool to better adapt to the Fearless Draft format. Hopefully, this recent defeat will provide T1 with valuable lessons to come back stronger in the future.