In the second quarterfinal match of the biggest League of Legends (LoL) tournament of the year, the LCK representative from South Korea convincingly defeated their LPL counterpart from China with a score of 3-0. T1 officially advances to the semifinals of the World Championship (Worlds), where JD Gaming (JDG) awaits. As for Royal Never Give Up (RNG), they have been eliminated in this year’s quarterfinals, ending their journey in the tournament. Now is the time to look back at the biggest highlights from this matchup earlier today.
1. Difference in Individual Skill
At this moment, T1 does not follow the traditional control style but instead builds gameplay based on individual skill. This factor is completely different from previous seasons, as the South Korean representative often had a slow strategy, focusing more on the late game. Therefore, a young and passionate T1 is infused with energy by coach Bengi into his students.
This year, T1 has not shown a deep tactical imprint in their lineup; their innovative gameplay using a carry champion in the top lane combined with aggressive play is proving effective. T1 prioritizes movement and map awareness the most in this tournament. Therefore, the LCK representative’s victory clearly reflects: “They surpassed their opponent in individual skill.”
In terms of skill level, Zeus is significantly superior to Breath on the other side. In all three games, Zeus performed very well, excellently fulfilling his assigned tasks. Especially in game 2, T1’s top laner was heavily camped, dying 8 times, yet his impact was greater than his opponent. As for Gumayusi, this player found his former form on Keria’s wings after a difficult period. Except for the jungler position, the other four players from T1 performed better than their opponents today.
2. Difference in Game Mindset
T1 has a strong advantage in their understanding of League of Legends, thanks to the legendary Faker. With professional experience, Faker understands every champion’s abilities, timing for movement, attack objectives, and how to operate the team composition. Therefore, the younger members of T1 just need to listen to their exemplary captain.
Specifically, in the first game, T1 had a strong team composition for the late game. They played very calmly, never rushing in their proactive attacks. Moving to game 2, T1 recognized they needed to group defensively to counter Fiora’s split-pushing strategy. Then, the LCK representative understood that Fiora is weak in team fights, so they focused on attacking major objectives, forcing the Duelist to team up with allies, losing her inherent advantage. Finally, T1 executed a successful team fight in the Elder Dragon area, gradually regaining map control and concluding a high-class comeback match. Indeed, T1’s understanding of champion mechanics and timing for attacking objectives was spot on.
3. High Determination
If you’ve been following T1 for many years, fans will see that the determination of this team is much higher than in previous seasons. The South Korean representative has a young roster; they suffered defeat in 2021 and are eager to prove themselves in this year’s tournament. Their strength has been doubted by experts and the League of Legends community worldwide after the recent LCK Summer Split. Therefore, the 2022 Worlds is where T1 is determined to regain their lost form and assert themselves on the international stage. And the LCK representative is executing their tasks excellently in this tournament, especially in the match against RNG earlier today.
4. The Rise of the Stars
T1 has many players with high individual skills. In the match against RNG today, the members of this team shone to decide the fate of the match. For example, in the first game, the duo of Oner and Zeus rendered Breath’s Renekton ineffective, gradually losing influence in the later stages. From there, Zeus and his teammates surged ahead, leading RNG 1-0.
Moving into game 2, when Zeus was heavily camped, Gumayusi sowed despair for the opposing team with Xayah, concluding a classic comeback in this tournament. In the final game, Faker capped off T1’s showcase by dominating his opponent with Akali, creating beautiful highlights against RNG’s mid laner. Taking turns to shine, T1 now resembles a cohesive machine, knowing how to carry each other if one teammate falls behind.