Against an opponent like OK BRION (OKBRO), fans expected T1 to secure a victory. Not only to solidify their position on the leaderboard but also to regain their spirit after a terrible period marked by continuous losses. Moreover, a win against OKBRO would provide a good foundation before T1 enters the final two weeks of competition during a time when they may still be without Faker.
However, the final result went against all the expectations of T1 fans. Even holding many advantages in Game 1, T1 could not finish the match as desired. The loss in the opening game signaled a disappointing day for the T1 players. They fell to what is considered one of the weakest teams in the tournament at this time – OKBRO, with a score of 1-2.
Immediately after T1’s defeat, streamer LS – who has a long history with T1 as well as LCK and the League of Legends scene, pointed out many issues with this team. During the match against T1, he shared: “I don’t understand what the T1 players are doing. They can’t draft, they don’t dare to play aggressively, they can’t control their advantages, they don’t coordinate in team fights… They have too many problems, not just the absence of Faker. T1 has been without Faker before, but this time it might be the worst.”
Indeed, as LS shared, after Faker’s absence, T1 seems to no longer be a powerful team. Keria no longer shines as before with his genius plays, Zeus has almost disappeared, Oner has declined both in performance and skill, and only Gumayusi remains, but when he makes a mistake, T1 ends all hopes just as they lost to OKBRO even when this team hadn’t fully gathered at the Elder Dragon.
Theoretically (and perhaps practically), T1 can still qualify for playoffs and the World Championship. However, it’s not just the 2023 season; T1 fans are genuinely worried as Faker may retire at any moment, and many can’t bear the thought that this could also signal the end for the name T1.