Faker’s Actions Cause Concern Among Fans
In the recent crushing defeat against Hanwha Life Esports in the LCK Summer 2024 playoffs, the performance of the duo Faker – Oner was undoubtedly one of the most disappointing. T1’s Mid – Jungle pair was completely outclassed by Zeka – Peanut from the opposing team. While both sides were relatively even during the laning phase and early jungle farming, Faker – Oner failed to demonstrate the necessary synergy or superior skills in critical situations. However, it’s understandable for Faker, especially when he was forced to use champions he’s not particularly comfortable with, including Nasus. Furthermore, Zeka and Peanut are among the best players in their respective roles in the LCK right now.
But perhaps for Faker, the responsibility for T1’s defeat weighs heavily on him. According to viewers, right after returning from the match against HLE, Faker immediately jumped into ranked matches to practice. In fact, reports from the audience noted that Faker played until around 5 or 6 AM (Korean time). This means that after the loss to HLE, Faker had no moments of rest and didn’t even sleep until morning.
Faker’s Determination and Passion Might Harm Him
T1’s Mid Laner has always been the backbone of his team in every match. But time waits for no one, and Faker is no exception. Moreover, as known, Faker’s injury is very difficult to fully heal, especially as he continues to train and compete at a high intensity. This injury may have worsened recently as the current professional League of Legends meta forces Faker to use marksman champions or those capable of “carrying the team” in the Mid Lane. The practice sessions following the match against HLE can be described as quite grueling for Faker.
Clearly, Faker is still filled with a desire to win and determination in every match – a trait shared by many sports legends worldwide. However, T1 must alleviate some of the pressure on Faker, not only to protect him but also to improve the team’s performance. Because, Faker can lead the T1 army only when he is truly in his best state, both mentally and skill-wise.