During the post-2019 World Championship transfer window, T1 was seen as an outsider after losing two stars, Khan and Clid, while mostly bringing in new “rookies” that needed development. The most notable new name was Cuzz, a mid-tier jungler before joining T1, leading many to believe that this legendary team was in a rebuilding phase and their performance would only be acceptable in the LCK Spring 2020.
However, this organization is still something quite miraculous, turning Cuzz into one of the top junglers in the tournament, while Canna is performing excellently and securely at the age of 20. Meanwhile, veteran members like Teddy, Effort in the bot lane, and Faker in mid are still performing outstandingly. T1 only needed a short time to bond the team together and they have risen to the top of the LCK, competing with a true “super team” in Gen.G.
Therefore, in the latest update of the world rankings from ESPN, the famous sports channel, T1 has climbed to the number 1 position, while Gen.G closely follows in second place. Another noteworthy point is the fall of Team Liquid, once the dominant force in North America, now far behind Cloud 9 and Fly Quest. The specific rankings are as follows:
1. T1
2. Gen.G
3. Fnatic
4. G2 Esports
5. Cloud 9
6. DragonX
7. Origen
8. Afreeca Freecs
9. Fly Quest
10. Rogue
Besides the undeniable names T1 and Gen.G, Fnatic’s rise above G2 Esports is also noteworthy. G2 Esports is showing some instability, particularly in the position of Caps, the team’s AD carry, as he gradually reveals weaknesses typical of a player playing “off-role”. This is part of the reason for G2 Esports’ failures.
Observing Caps’ gameplay, it’s apparent that in many cases he still thinks like a mid laner, trying to split push, attempting to support teammates. However, he is playing AD carry, a position that is extremely “selfish” because one must prioritize their own safety above all. While there may not be many teams in Europe that exploit this aspect of Caps, international tournaments are a completely different story.
Meanwhile, in North America, it seems Cloud 9 is the only horse in the race. They have won their 12th consecutive match and it appears that no team in North America can stop them; it’s only a matter of time before Cloud 9 clinches the championship.
On the other hand, Team Liquid is facing significant issues with motivation, particularly regarding Doublelift’s position. After he took a break, the young AD carry Tactical stepped in and immediately shined, leading Liquid to two decisive victories. After all, Doublelift is no longer young, has numerous titles in the LCS, and it might be time for him to step back and become a streamer to make way for younger players.
The most unfortunate aspect of this ranking is that no Chinese teams are represented, primarily due to the pandemic that everyone knows about. Next week, it is highly likely that the LCK will face a similar situation when the second round of the tournament is temporarily postponed. Fortunately, the LPL is set to return with an online format, so it is likely that the top positions of T1 and Gen.G won’t hold for long before a new contender emerges.
