On January 20th (Vietnam time), the LCK Spring 2022 began with a highly anticipated match between T1 and DRX. Although DRX is currently struggling despite having the veteran bot lane duo of Deft and BeryL, this matchup was still considered quite exciting, potentially allowing T1 to apply pressure on Gen.G Esports, who were set to play in the later match against Fredit BRION.
The match unfolded as many had predicted. However, in game one, the “team carrier” was not the bot lane duo Gumayusi and Keria or top laner Zeus and jungler Oner, but rather the veteran Faker himself. Holding the champion Tryndamere, Faker made Zeka’s Corki’s life incredibly difficult during the laning phase and throughout the mid and late-game team fights. Notably, his “one-man army” play led to an unofficial triple-kill for the “Demon King,” allowing T1 to establish complete control of the match.
In game two, DRX maintained a balance in kills, but T1 pushed towers too quickly, creating a financial disparity. In the late-game team fights, the difference was evident. DRX’s Ziggs and Camille could not withstand Gumayusi’s Aphelios or Faker’s Corki. T1 concluded the match after nearly 29 minutes of play, officially achieving their third consecutive victory in the LCK Spring 2022.
After their victory against DRX, T1 temporarily moved to the top of the standings (prior to the Gen.G – BRO match). Faker and his teammates performed exceptionally well, and surely T1’s victory will place significant pressure on Chovy and Gen.G in their match against BRO. As for DRX, they sit at the bottom of the table and risk repeating their dismal performance from the LCK Summer 2021 (2-16 losses).