One of the most anticipated clashes in the first round of LCK Summer 2023 was the showdown between Dplus KIA (DK) and T1. Both teams were in a similar predicament, struggling with recent performances. DK had just secured an important victory against Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) to build psychological momentum before this duel. Meanwhile, T1 had just experienced the “pain” of facing KT Rolster, leaving their fans with valid concerns.
Indeed, the match unfolded somewhat similarly to the overall situation of both teams. ShowMaker remained the standout performer for DK, but he also made some mistakes that could be described as… “comic relief”. Meanwhile, T1 managed to address many of their weaknesses, notably their overly passive playstyle. However, Faker still struggled to make a significant impact, continuously becoming the target of attacks.
Ultimately, T1 emerged victorious with a convincing performance from all five members. Faker, playing LeBlanc in game 2, despite being continuously targeted, showcased the true essence of the champion, disrupting the enemy formation. Furthermore, Faker set a personal record: this marks his 17th consecutive victory with LeBlanc. Since January 30, 2022 (during the LCK Spring 2022), when LeBlanc started to regain her strength, Faker has never lost while playing this champion, which shares his competitive name.
On the other hand, DK also achieved a record, but it was in an entirely contrasting emotional context. Specifically, since defeating T1 in the semifinals of the 2021 World Championship (Worlds), DK has not won a single match against T1. Even during the LCK Summer 2022, when T1 lost 3 matches, they still defeated DK both in the first and second rounds with a score of 2-0.
The victory against DK will help T1 regain some confidence as well as gain experience for upcoming matches. As for DK, after a brief revival, they were completely defeated by a direct title competitor. This loss also indicates that it may take a long time for the 2020 LCK champions to regain their former glory.