After five intense days of competition, the Rumble Stage of MSI 2022 has concluded. The teams that will make it to the top four include Royal Never Give Up, T1, G2 Esports, and Evil Geniuses. This outcome was expected by most of the League of Legends community. The two teams eliminated are PSG Talon and Saigon Buffalo. Additionally, in the opponent selection phase, RNG chose EG, so the clash for the last spot in the finals will be between G2 and T1.
4 teams, 2 matchups in the upcoming MSI 2022 Semifinals
However, for T1, the recently concluded Rumble Stage cannot be considered a success, even though in the final matches, Faker and his teammates successfully “avenged” both G2 and RNG. This is because, in their rematch against EG, T1 surprisingly suffered a defeat after leading the game from the start. Moreover, T1’s weaknesses in team fights have not been fully addressed. For example, in the match against SGB in the rematch, T1, while holding a significant advantage, still allowed the young “Buffalo” team to secure a winning team fight near the Blue Buff area.
In an interview after their victory against RNG in the Rumble Stage, Faker affirmed: “It’s a pity that there were some unnecessary losses. There wasn’t a single match that I was really satisfied with in this Rumble Stage. I think the team still hasn’t shown 100% of our performance.”
Additionally, Faker commented on the situation of his younger teammate, Gumayusi. Faker stated: “Gumayusi has made more mistakes than before, but I didn’t think his condition was that bad. Perhaps being an AD in the team puts a lot of pressure on him. I don’t have any special advice for Gumayusi. I can only remind him to let go of everything and try to perform well.”
In the recent Rumble Stage, Gumayusi was indeed one of T1’s weaknesses. The 2002-born ADC has been performing well in lane but tends to struggle during crucial moments or team fights, failing to maintain his position or showcase much impact. Meanwhile, players like GALA, Flakked, and even Danny and Shogun from SGB have been more impressive than Gumayusi.
Nevertheless, T1’s journey in MSI 2022 is not over yet, and the team will face off against a long-time rival, G2. At that point, T1 needs to show 100% of their potential, especially Gumayusi, so that the LCK representative can overcome the “National Circus” and reach the finals and, ultimately, win the MSI 2022 championship.