With an opponent deemed significantly weaker and lacking motivation like Liiv SANDBOX, T1 approached their first match of the final week of the LCK Spring 2022 group stage with the goal of extending their unbeaten record. Furthermore, in just a few days, they would face DRX – a rival considered much tougher. Thus, this matchup can be viewed as a pivotal moment aimed at establishing a good psychological foundation for the T1 players before entering a historic match.
However, in reality, LSB’s lack of motivation seemed to enhance their players’ performance. In Game 1, T1 accepted to forfeit Dragon buffs with the intent of leveraging Rift Herald and their strong laning to resolve the match early. Nevertheless, LSB managed to endure the challenging phase and entered the mid-game with a very slight disadvantage against T1. Faker and his teammates did not engage in fights particularly well. Faker’s Kai’Sa in mid-lane no longer surprised opponents. Although Oner managed to steal the Elder Dragon, LSB proved stronger in skirmishes and surprisingly took the lead after Game 1 concluded.
However, in Games 2 and 3, T1 regained the necessary focus to resolve the matches. Faker and his teammates played extremely focused and had champions they were comfortable with. On the side of LSB, they were almost “taking hits” for most of the duration of the two games. Although there were moments when the yellow-clad team managed to recover in Game 3, T1 players performed significantly better, especially Oner and Gumayusi. Faker and his teammates crushed every attempt from LSB, completing a comeback to raise their winning streak to 17 games.
This victory for T1 brings them closer to the 18-game winning streak of Invictus Gaming, but more importantly, it aims towards the record of a perfect group stage that a team can achieve in League of Legends history. The upcoming opponent is the formidable DRX, but based on their current performance, there is every reason to believe that Faker and his teammates can set an unparalleled record in history.