In T1’s opening match against Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), Faker was voted POG (Player of the Game) thanks to his stellar performance in games 2 and 3. It can be said that T1’s debut day in LCK Summer 2023 was completely smooth, especially for Faker. This could be a good starting point, especially after the team had not performed as expected during Spring and MSI 2023.
After the match with HLE, T1 will immediately face another tough opponent, equal to them in strength at LCK – Gen.G. This matchup is considered the highlight of the first week of LCK Summer 2023. T1 aims for victory to maintain their momentum, while Gen.G also seeks revenge after their defeat to T1 at MSI 2023.
However, in a recent interview, Faker has made fans somewhat worried. Specifically, Faker mentioned that his health is not good: “I had a headache during today’s match. My condition is not good, so I didn’t perform as well as I wanted. In the next two days, I will pay attention to managing my state and preparing well for the match against Gen.G.” Additionally, Faker stated that he often has to meditate to avoid excessive stress and anxiety when competing.
This is indeed disappointing news for T1 fans. Faker himself is getting older, and currently, he leans more towards leading his teammates rather than executing miraculous plays based on skill. If Faker is truly unwell, he will find it difficult to compete against the younger Chovy on the opposite side. It should be noted that even when in his best condition, it is currently very challenging for Faker to defeat Chovy.
The training and competition rhythm in LCK is always very intense. T1 is under a lot of pressure after continuously failing in the tournaments they participated in. The high expectations combined with great pressure can truly make players feel stressed and directly affect their health.
However, T1 and Faker themselves are likely also trying to achieve the best condition, as this can be seen as a match to evaluate the strength of both teams in Summer 2023, after going through a disappointing MSI period. Moreover, the upcoming matchups between Faker and Chovy could also be competitive for the official position in the lineup for the upcoming ASIAD of both players.