HLE is Harnessing a Key Factor of T1
In their recent match against NS, HLE secured a victory that wasn’t too easy, as they had to go through 3 games to overcome the “spicy noodle squad.” However, a win is a win, and if we look at the bans and picks in game 2, it could even be said that that loss was part of HLE’s strategy to test certain team compositions. Nevertheless, one common point across all 3 games was that HLE’s bottom lane consistently performed from even to winning, regardless of the champion choices.
And this is the very factor that laid the foundation for T1’s past victories. Of course, this year, they still have some decisive wins in the bottom lane. But that’s only when facing weaker opponents or having slight champion advantages. Even in their match against KRX, T1 could only be considered to have a “light win” in game 2, with a clear minion difference.
But that was when LazyFeel had already gone down 2 times, and Andil also left the AD carry to go gank. Not to mention, the Ashe – Seraphine duo had a significant advantage over Yunara – Lulu in the early game.
Additionally, another factor is the performance of Keria and Delight. In game 3 against DK, it can be said that if T1 won, the POM (Player of the Match) would surely belong to the support born in 2002. However, at that time, T1 had to choose a champion for Peyz that could spam skills from a distance to farm minions. This is because T1’s rookie is not particularly strong in the laning phase.
In contrast, in Gumayusi’s recent case, Delight was still able to roam and gank freely in all 3 games, regardless of which champion Gumayusi used, whether it was a Miss Fortune or a Sivir, which had significantly shorter range compared to Caitlyn and Corki on the opposite side.
Previously, T1 could have some inconsistencies in executing matches but would rely on “winning lanes” to set the stage for “winning games.” However, even in the current meta, where the laning phase has become crucial, they find themselves at a disadvantage compared to stronger opponents. This leads to understandable unfavorable results as seen recently.
HLE is Making Excellent Use of Gumayusi’s Abilities
In the new team, after some time playing together, Gumayusi has shown improved synergy with Delight in each match. This has set the stage for HLE to fully leverage this player’s laning potential. However, HLE cannot be complacent as teams like Gen.G and T1 may “wake up” in time and still make it to playoffs – where they have consistently proven their mettle over many seasons.