Faker is Truly “Not Himself”
Recently, T1 ended their brief undefeated streak after a dramatic confrontation with HLE. It must be noted that throughout the 3 games, T1 had opportunities to secure victories but failed to capitalize as HLE gradually regained advantages, and the “Orange House” executed a perfect snowball in games 1 and 3. Even more sadly for T1 fans, the player who contributed to “helping” HLE regain the advantage was none other than Faker.
In the recent match against HLE, Faker went down a total of 15 times across 3 games, averaging 5 deaths per game in the Mid Lane – a concerning number for a player considered a top cornerstone, spiritual leader, and the most experienced member of T1 as well as the current League of Legends scene. Faker also had the highest death count in this match, more than 3 times that of Keria – a Support player.
Notably, prior to this, in 2 homeground matches, the 2 games where Faker used Azir also saw him go down a total of 16 times. This is a champion that is considered “comfort” and one of the most flexible Mid Lane champions in League of Legends, yet Faker was solo killed multiple times in those matches. Clearly, there is an issue causing T1’s Mid Lane to struggle with execution, even with champions he frequently uses.
Back in the match against HLE, Faker contributed very little across all 3 games. In game 2, he lost lane to Zeka, and if not for the champion Twisted Fate, which has skills to “hack gold,” “reveal” the map, and whose role in team fights is not too burdensome, coupled with good performances from his teammates, the score might have been 2-0 in favor of HLE. Even when Faker had “Gold Card,” it did not apply pressure on HLE, even during chases, ganks, or team fights.
Regaining Form for Faker is Perhaps the Most Important Thing
Faker has always been the soul of T1’s gameplay, and he is also the spiritual leader of the entire team. But currently, Faker is facing issues, and this is undeniable. For T1 to regain their winning streak, helping Faker return to his highest form is likely one of the key factors.