The loss to Gen.G marks the third defeat out of four domestic finals that T1 has participated in, counting from Spring 2022 to now. Including MSI and the World Championship, T1 has lost a total of 5 out of 6 finals – a record that is certainly forgettable for anyone. Even if they can argue that T1 is still outstanding and they only lost to a better team, for a major team like T1, a loss is a loss. Each defeat cannot be excused but can only serve as a lesson, attracting criticism and pushing for greater effort next time.
However, for many, T1’s defeat against Gen.G can actually be viewed positively. One argument made is: “Honestly, I don’t want to see Faker or T1 win 5 games with 5 uses of Azir. Better to lose, but T1 shows a bold playstyle with familiar foundations. As seen, Gen.G banned Azir in 3 games and T1 lost significantly. Azir or any meta champion can be banned. I hope Faker will dare to experiment with new champions or more unconventional choices.”
Indeed, traditionally viewed as the “meta creators,” T1 has recently become “pinned down” to certain picks. For instance, Faker is an example as he has had to continuously use Azir or Zoe. The moment Azir is banned (in the 3 games against Gen.G), Faker is immediately neutralized.
This is very detrimental, especially when simply banning 1 or 2 champions can lead to a team’s defeat. In the international arena, strong teams from the LPL or LEC will certainly not overlook these weaknesses of T1. This loss may force the T1 coaching staff to seriously research newer champion matchups, while also compelling the players to play more boldly. Looking from one perspective, T1 players will benefit as they must change and improve to aim for the 2023 World Championship. In fact, every time they face defeat in domestic competitions, T1 tends to perform quite impressively in the subsequent international tournaments, except for MSI 2023 when JDG and BLG were simply too strong.
Defeat, in some respects, brings lessons and experiences. T1 has lost to Gen.G and strong names like JD Gaming or Bilibili Gaming recently. The thread of experience may have been drawn enough, and T1 needs to show that they truly know how to bounce back and win titles rather than making empty statements and repeating past mistakes.