To say the least, T1’s championship journey in the recent 2023 Worlds was a real “nightmare” for LPL fans. The reason is that T1 defeated all the seeds from the LPL region to claim this prestigious title. They successively took down Bilibili Gaming in the Swiss round and LNG Esports (LNG), JD Gaming (JDG), and Weibo Gaming (WBG) in the qualifiers.
T1’s victory has significantly impacted both the LCK and LPL for the upcoming season. For the LCK, the success of T1, thanks to their persistence with a stable roster, has led many teams to change their operation methods and recruit players. As a result, many contracts lasting 2 to 3 years have emerged during the current transfer period in the LCK.
On the LPL side, the situation has become rather bleak after the 2023 Worlds. Recently, the former coach of Team WE (now a streamer for WBG) revealed that LPL teams are facing significant challenges in recruiting Korean players. “Many Korean players will not choose to join the LPL next year. Why? Because LPL teams cannot meet their salary demands. Sponsors for many LPL teams are also out of funds now,” shared former coach Assassin during a live stream.
Indeed, in recent years, recruiting quality Korean players has been seen as the fastest way to enhance LPL’s strength. JDG is a prime example with the successful acquisition of star Ruler from Gen.G. This signing helped JDG secure 2 LPL titles and 1 MSI championship in 2023.
However, T1’s recent victory has somewhat diminished the appeal of the LPL region to Korean players. If former coach Assassin’s statements are accurate, then the LPL has also lost its advantage in terms of compensation compared to LCK teams. As of now, many Korean players have chosen to stay in the LCK rather than move to the LPL to compete.
Therefore, it would not be surprising if LPL teams find themselves “out of breath” compared to LCK opponents in the international arena next season. This might also be an opportunity for LPL teams to reassess their development strategies. T1’s success comes from trusting young talents instead of purchasing stars, and the LPL should learn from this.