Currently, although the results against their “kryptonite” opponent Gen.G are not particularly good, it can be said that the team T1 can be seen as a perfect unit. They possess the full skillset of each member, the mentality and experience from battles, as well as unity and seamless coordination. In short, T1 will still be a very strong team and in 2024, T1’s journey is not only about defending the championship title at Worlds 2023 but also about completing a true Golden Road, with the first goal being the championship title at LCK Spring 2024.
However, because T1 is currently too perfect and the members function like interlocking gears, a problem arises: they have no suitable substitutes if any member of the main lineup faces issues. The 2023 Summer LCK is a clear example, when T1 struggled due to Faker‘s absence. They were still 4 young stars who had created impressive milestones, but without Faker, they became quite mediocre. At that time, T1 could only win against Nongshim RedForce, losing all other matches they played, even against weaker representatives like DRX or Fredit BRION.
Additionally, according to Impact – the former SKT T1 star, this playstyle of T1 players is also difficult for anyone to learn. The Top Laner even used his junior currently on T1 – Zeus as an example: “Zeus is very good, but if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to learn anything from him. He plays Yone and even if he loses lane, he performs very well in team fights. His playstyle is very unique. But the key is Faker. Faker can help Zeus overcome difficult phases in the match, especially when laning. And I think only Faker can do that, and that’s what makes Zeus’s playstyle hard to learn from.”
In reality, with his extensive experience and having fought alongside many different teammates, Faker certainly has particular knowledge and knows what is best for the team. Therefore, it is not surprising that when playing alongside Faker, young players can maximize their abilities. However, when Faker is absent, they immediately become like “a headless snake” and lose direction on their path.
However, Faker also cannot compete long-term like the current young stars of T1. And when that time comes, players may face many difficulties but must quickly adapt to continue their own careers.