On April 8 (Vietnam time), the lower bracket final between Gen.G and KT Rolster took place. Not only did it determine which team would compete in the LCK Spring 2023 final against T1, but it also secured the last spot for MSI 2023. Both teams showed immense determination, especially Gen.G, who were under scrutiny regarding their ability to defend the LCK crown.
However, KT could not perform as they did when they challenged T1 in their previous encounter. Perhaps the earlier matches against T1 or the win against Hanwha Life Esports drained the energy of Bdd and his teammates. KT only surprised in game 1 with their familiar aggressive playstyle. But in the remaining 3 games, Gen.G forced KT to play slowly, capitalizing on every small mistake from their opponents to secure victory. Gen.G also became the second team representing LCK at the upcoming MSI 2023.
On his personal Twitter, Caedrel – an expert and commentator for League of Legends bluntly stated: “One of the best defensive teams in the world, meta heavy on bans and picks, slow-paced game, no risky decisions, and taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes, sticking to strategies… A boring match, but the job is done.”
Indeed, due to the life-and-death nature of the match, both teams appeared quite cautious. Even in game 1, when KT played aggressively, the kills and major fights were not plentiful. Moreover, both teams are known for sticking to their strategies, rarely having the unpredictability that T1 brings. This has been highlighted as a reason why Gen.G and KT have fallen to T1 in the past.
On April 9, Gen.G will face T1 in the finals, which will also be the last match of LCK Spring 2023. Not many people hold high hopes for Gen.G’s chances of winning, especially when Chovy and his teammates still have many weaknesses at present. And regarding capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes, T1 is not inferior to any team in this League of Legends scene.