Recently, the organizers of LCK Spring 2020 announced the list of individual awards after the conclusion of the group stage of the tournament. And it was no surprise that these awards went to the top 3 teams in the standings:
Group Stage MVP: Bdd (Gen.G Esports)
Best Coach: Kim (T1)
Rookie of the Split: Keria (DragonX)
However, there was a notable “twist” as Coach Kim of T1 surpassed two other candidates to claim the title of Best Coach of the group stage, even though T1 did not finish in first place.
Coach Kim edged out two other well-known colleagues, cvMax of DragonX and Edgar of Gen.G Esports, with a close score (Coach Kim received 131 points, cvMax got 117 points, and Edgar received 103 points).
Although T1 finished in second place overall after the group stage, this achievement is regarded as significantly better than Gen.G Esports’ top spot. According to expert opinions, this performance exceeded expectations for T1 fans.
After a tumultuous transfer season and parting ways with several star players, T1 once again faces a major overhaul, and unlike in 2019, they have placed their trust in young talents this time.
Other than Cuzz, there were no blockbuster signings brought in. The top lane, previously held by Khan, has been entrusted to Canna – one of the young talents who was a former trainee of the team.
In contrast to Gen.G’s star-studded lineup, T1 is considered much weaker this season. However, under Coach Kim’s leadership, Faker and his teammates are still proving to be the strongest contenders for the championship, as they easily dominated Gen.G in both encounters, despite not finishing first in the standings.
This afternoon, T1 will step into the semifinals of LCK Spring 2020 against DragonX. The winning team in this matchup will secure a spot in the finals against Gen.G Esports. Will Coach Kim be able to continue to nurture the potential of T1’s young stars? Let’s wait and see!