The highly anticipated clash between Dplus KIA (DK) and T1 ended with a victory for Faker and his teammates. Not only did T1 smoothly surpass DK in both games, but this victory also helped T1 improve long-standing weaknesses. Confidence and proactivity returned to the T1 players, helping them forget the disappointment following their loss to KT Rolster. However, for DK, just as they were starting to recover, they faced numerous issues again.
This is not the first time DK has lost to T1; in fact, it has been a long time since DK managed to win against them. If DK cannot defeat T1 before the conclusion of the 2023 World Championship (Worlds), it will mark exactly two years since ShowMaker and his teammates last achieved a good result against Faker’s army. Over nearly two years, DK has not tasted glory again. The players themselves have fluctuated in performance and have seemingly lost their way.
In the post-match interview after the game against T1, the head coach of DK shared the reasons for their defeat. He stated: “The players’ mentality has been greatly affected when preparing to face teams like T1 and Gen.G. They performed well, but the pressure was immense, which impacted their performance. DK’s opponents always enter the match with a strong will and determination. That is the reason we lost to them.”
However, the head coach’s explanation has left many fans of the team dissatisfied. Currently, other than Kellin, the rest are experienced names who have competed extensively in both domestic and international tournaments. Claiming that players like Canyon and Deft are psychologically weak is not entirely accurate, especially since Deft had previously defeated T1 with DRX at Worlds 2022.
In reality, the head coach’s statement is not incorrect but is not comprehensive. The DK players are in a state of crisis, and their mentality is just one of several reasons. The players have lost their form for a long time, and perhaps their current efforts are insufficient to help them win against direct competitors for the title, as well as secure a spot at the upcoming Worlds 2023.