Despite being mentally prepared, perhaps no T1 fan could shake off the sadness after the defeat in the LCK Summer Finals 2021 against DWG KIA. If one only looks at the score, many might mistake it for a complete annihilation of T1 by DK. But that’s only half the truth.
The reality is that in games 3 and 4, T1 posed significant challenges to DK, and at times it seemed like the finals might stretch to a game 5, as Faker and Canna had a blazing start in game 4. However, continuous mistakes caused T1 to throw away all their advantages. Even more sadly, those mistakes came from Faker himself – the one who was once the symbol of victory for this team.
Clearly, DWG KIA is on a completely different level compared to Gen.G, Nongshim RedForce, or Liiv SANDBOX, and when facing such an opponent, mistakes are not allowed.
Just one self-destructing ultimate from T1 allowed DK to capitalize on that moment and regain the match. Strangely enough, looking at the performance in the finals, one might feel that DWG KIA is the team replicating the image of peak SKT, even more so than what those who bear the SKT DNA – Faker and T1 – could achieve.
It is the ability to play below their means when trailing, the sharpness in punishing every mistake of the opponent, and always knowing how to finish the game. ShowMaker’s decision to attack T1 during their attempt to take the fourth dragon was a reasonable choice that showcased the quick response of this team against a bold move by the opponent.
As for T1 and Faker, their performance in the finals, while not great, was still commendable. T1 was the first team to break DK’s Nexus in an LCK finals, and they even countered DK’s top camp play very effectively.
As mentioned, T1’s loss to DK was a scenario that was anticipated, but sadly, this defeat bore the heavy mark of Faker. For a name that carries so much expectation and trust, this is not a pleasant experience.
LCK fans in general and Faker fans in particular must finally admit that what he displayed in game 4 against DK shows that the Demon King is no longer among the top superstars in the world.
Faker remains the spiritual symbol, the source of inspiration, and the brain behind T1’s playstyle. However, the most crucial factor for a League of Legends player is reflexes and individual technique, where Faker can no longer compare with the younger generation.
After the golden era of SKT, no team in the LCK has been able to dominate the league for more than 2 consecutive seasons, until DWG KIA officially conquers the championship milestone for the third time. Many fans have asserted that Faker’s chance to return to the top has nearly ended, as time will gradually diminish his skills.
Although this is not a new story, it wasn’t until witnessing T1 being annihilated by the very style that brought them to the pinnacle that one must acknowledge that the era of SKT – T1 has officially come to an end, and now is the era of DWG KIA – the new pride of Korean League of Legends represented by the new generation of players.