On the same day that T1 faced off against BNK FearX, Gen.G, T1’s arch-rival, also battled against another opponent sitting in the lower half of the LCK Summer 2024 standings, Nongshim RedForce. However, despite both teams facing significantly weaker opponents, T1 and Gen.G had two contrasting outcomes. While T1 suffered their second consecutive loss to conclude the first half of the LCK Summer 2024 group stage, Gen.G continued their dominant performance with a 2-0 victory over NS, solidifying their position at the top of the standings for now.
With a straightforward win against a much weaker opponent, Gen.G also established a remarkable record in the history of the LCK. Specifically, Gen.G has become the team with the longest winning streak in the tournament’s history (20 wins) and the longest winning streak in a domestic season with 18 consecutive victories. Gen.G’s last defeat was against KT Rolster in the first round of the LCK Spring 2024 group stage. After that, Chovy and his teammates completely regained their form in the second round.
However, this record-winning streak is not just a memorable milestone for each player and the team, but it also comes with “side effects.” The most evident example is T1 from 2022. No one could imagine that the then-undefeated LCK squad would fall to G2 Esports at MSI that same year, ending their winning streak. Moreover, T1 even struggled against Saigon Buffalo, and the bot duo Gumayusi – Keria had incredibly poor statistics, even losing the laning phase to Shogun – Taki from VCS.
According to T1 players, during that period, they felt the pressure to perform well to secure victories while also carrying the mindset of not being allowed to lose or make even the smallest mistakes. This lack of a free mindset and constant pressure weighed heavily on them, leading to numerous challenges. This was also one of the reasons T1 lost in the finals against Royal Never Give Up.
Gen.G’s record is unlikely to ever be broken. However, the players need to keep a cool head and stay grounded. They may still win the LCK (for the fifth consecutive time), but the 2024 World Championship is the real target that Chovy and his teammates are looking forward to and must achieve this season.