As of now, T1 is having an acceptable start to the LCK Spring 2024 group stage. Of course, facing 3 out of 4 teams that are championship contenders and achieving 2 victories is a commendable accomplishment. In fact, the first match against Gen.G can be seen as a necessary “warm-up” for T1 to shake off the championship of the Worlds 2023 that just passed and to regain their competitive form. Moreover, many assessments suggest that T1 might still have more “tricks up their sleeve,” especially when Keria and Gumayusi seem to not have fully utilized their champion pools.
Not only Keria, but other T1 players are also gradually regaining their form, as exemplified by Zeus’s brilliant performance in the recent match against Hanwha Life Esports. However, it is undeniable that Faker – the mid-laner and captain of the 2023 Worlds champions has consistently delivered impressive performances so far. Especially in the matches against KT Rolster and recently HLE, Faker has always showcased highlight plays with his signature champions Corki and Orianna.
Moreover, according to recent statistics, Faker currently holds the best mid-lane stats among all 10 teams in LCK Spring 2024 during the early game phase. Specifically, he has the highest gold, experience, and creep score differentials in the 10-15 minute mark across the entire tournament. Notably, aside from Kwangdong Freecs’ BuLLDoG, the other three opponents Faker faced recently are among the toughest competitors. Among them, Chovy and Bdd possess impressive laning skills. Notably, Gen.G’s mid-laner is famous for his ability to farm minions and dominate lanes early to roam to other sides comfortably.
In addition to using long-range champions that are easy to farm (Azir, Orianna, Corki), Faker also demonstrates incredible lane sustainability. The support from Oner is certainly present, but Faker himself is not the damage dealer like Chovy, Zeka, or Bdd. Therefore, as seen in many matches, he is not as “well-cared for” as his younger counterparts on the opposing side.
And Faker still possesses impressive stats that show: T1 has a very strong early game phase. This often serves as a prerequisite for this team to execute their subsequent gameplay, as all players have reached the necessary levels and items. Not to mention, the champions Faker often plays (Azir, Corki, Orianna) all require level 6. Having the highest early game experience differential allows T1 to be much more proactive in fights around Dragon, Rift Herald… Thus creating a snowball effect leading to ultimate victory.