Gen.G Achieves Peak Performance Against DK
Alongside the match between HLE and T1, the LCK Regular Season last week also featured a major clash between two teams, Gen.G and DK. It’s worth noting that before this match, both Gen.G and DK had secured 3 victories, and the team that defeated their opponent would rise to the top of the group stage standings. In reality, the match was a thrilling showdown as both teams constantly exchanged blows, and Gen.G managed to clinch a narrow victory with a final score of 2-1.
Not only did DK lose the top spot to Gen.G, but this defeat became even more bitter as it marked their 18th consecutive loss to this opponent. This losing streak is quite rare for a team against a specific rival, and it is unfortunate that DK is the victim of this phenomenon. When asked about the aforementioned record losing streak, DK’s coach Bengi admitted that they were very close to victory and believed they were truly facing a “curse” when up against Gen.G.
“We prepared many strategies to counter Gen.G’s strong picks, but unfortunately, we faced defeat. The second game dealt a heavy blow to the players’ mentality, and we did not remain calm enough to overcome that. Honestly, after losing to Gen.G so many times, I believe there is some kind of ‘curse’ that is very hard to overcome between us and them. No matter how much we prepare or how hard we train, the result is still defeat, and that’s too hard to swallow.” – Coach Bengi shared bitterly.
DK Needs to Improve Mentality to Surpass Gen.G
Fairly speaking, although DK lost the match, they did not play poorly against Gen.G; in fact, at certain moments, they even outperformed their opponent. However, the psychological issue, as Coach Bengi mentioned above, seems to be a significant barrier for DK in seeking victory against Gen.G. Particularly in game 3, DK suddenly played much worse compared to the previous two games because their mentality had been heavily impacted after the loss.
Therefore, if DK wants to return to the position of a contender for the LCK championship or even further in international tournaments, they need to quickly improve this psychological issue. It’s important to note that the competition in the LCK is extremely fierce, with old powers like Gen.G and T1, alongside HLE, rising very strongly in recent times. If DK cannot resolve this issue, they may only remain a team within the top 4 instead of a true championship contender.
Tùng Hoàng