For T1 and the fans of this team right now, Faker’s injury and the performance of the players are probably the top concerns. T1 has lost 3 out of 4 recent matches without Faker. However, it can be excused that aside from DRX, Gen.G and Dplus KIA are both direct competitors with T1 for titles and spots in the World Championship. During this time, Faker’s injury is also receiving significant attention.
Recently, the League of Legends community discovered that Faker has started playing games again after a period of rest. Accordingly, the T1 captain has played some matches in ARAM mode. Although he cannot return to normal solo queue matches or interact live with fans yet, this is a positive sign. Moreover, ARAM mode is often used by players to try out new champions or test skill sets.
However, T1 fans may not be able to celebrate just yet. Faker has only just returned to ARAM mode and the champions he is using have many “unfamiliar” names like Rakan, Talon, or Pyke. Perhaps Faker is just gradually finding his rhythm before officially returning. Furthermore, a few days ago, after the victory against Nongshim RedForce, Coach Tom admitted that Faker’s injury needs a lot of diagnosis and discussion before he can return to competition. Both T1 and Faker do not want to take risks, especially since Faker’s journey in 2023 will be very long.
Moreover, in the upcoming two matches, only Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) could truly challenge the T1 players. Additionally, the other team is OK BRION – a team that always has fluctuating performance. It is likely that T1’s management and Faker will agree that he should continue to rest during this time and only return when he is truly ready. Everyone understands that it cannot be for a few group stage matches that could lead to regrets for both Faker and T1 in the long remaining journey of 2023.