In the LCK Spring 2022, T1 was the only team in the entire League of Legends community with the most perfect record. Faker and his teammates crowned with a record of 20 wins – 0 losses, becoming the first team in the history of LCK and League of Legends to achieve this. Besides Faker and T1 winning the LCK championship for the 10th time, the other members also achieved their first championship title in the highest tournament of the Korean League of Legends.
With T1’s extremely successful performance, it is natural that many teams would want to learn from the model of the reigning champions of LCK Spring 2022. However, this may be extremely difficult as T1 possesses factors that no other team in the world has.
High-Quality Youth Training Academy
First and foremost, the key factor for the success of any team is not the star-studded roster but the youth training academy itself. In the current T1 lineup, all players have been with the team for a long time. Strictly speaking, aside from Keria who transferred from another team, the other 4 players, including Faker, all came from the T1 youth academy.
Speaking of youth training, T1 is number one in the LCK, and perhaps no team dares to claim the second spot. Not only does it provide quality players for the first team, but many stars in the LCK and even LPL have emerged from T1. Notable names include Scout (EDward Gaming), Berserker (Cloud9), Gori (FunPlus Phoenix), Burdol (DWG KIA)… These names are more than enough to showcase the quality of T1’s training academy.
Therefore, when players like Zeus and Oner were promoted to the first team, they immediately proved their talent. However, while Zeus only officially joined the first team in Spring 2022, Oner had already established his quality at Worlds 2021. If DK had not been so outstanding at Worlds 2021, T1 might have been the ones to face EDG in the finals in Iceland.
Currently in the LCK, apart from T1, there is hardly any other youth training academy that matches its quality. This is not only a crucial factor in forming T1’s winning formula but also an investment in the future. With players like Zeus, Oner, and Gumayusi performing exceptionally well, T1 can be completely assured about their long journey ahead.
Utilizing Homegrown Talent
And when possessing such a high-quality youth training academy, it would be a mistake not to utilize players that they have trained themselves. Players like Gumayusi, Zeus, and Oner have certainly not disappointed the expectations of the team’s management and fans. In fact, if Canyon were not the “golden spine” of DK, the Spring 2022 All-Star lineup would likely feature all 5 positions from T1 players.
As they entered the playoffs and eventually the LCK Spring 2022 finals, it was the young players who took turns shining, leading T1 to bring home the championship trophy for the 10th time. Notably, Oner, who had been “sidelined” by Canyon, was the MVP of the finals. What could be sweeter for T1 and Oner?
A Coach Truly Connected to the Players and Understands Team Culture
There is one truth: T1, or formerly SKT T1, has only truly succeeded with a coach who is sufficiently connected, has the right mentality to understand the team’s culture and the players. A prime example is the case of coach kkOma, with temporary coaches Moment and Stardust during the 2021 season (after the duo Daeny – Zefa were fired), and currently, the coaches Polt, Bengi, and Moment.
Coaches Kim, Daeny, and Zefa are not without talent. However, these coaches lack a critical factor: understanding team culture and managing player psyche, as exemplified by how they treated the legend Faker.
Coach Kim has publicly “both hit and pampered” Faker on numerous occasions. Meanwhile, coach Daeny did not hesitate to bench the team’s legend while subtly criticizing him in public. While it cannot be denied that Faker’s performance declined, the lack of genuine connection with the team members by these coaches caused them not to succeed, and T1 also went through extremely difficult times.
In the current LCK, teams also find it challenging to find coaches who genuinely understand team culture and connect well with players. The pressure for results is too heavy, and coaches themselves cannot ensure their positions as was the case with coach kkOma in the past. Therefore, only truly patient teams, and coaches who genuinely strive can create success together.
The Most Important Factor: A Leader Like Faker
During the offseason transfer window at the end of the 2021 season, T1 extended Faker’s contract. This was one of the most closely watched deals in the League of Legends community. Not only because of the huge salary T1 promised to Faker, but people also paid attention to the terms that T1’s CEO hinted at in the contract: Faker would have the right to contribute ideas regarding the direction of the team, as well as the coaching staff for the 2022 season.
From the information revealed by T1’s CEO, it can be said that Faker contributed significantly to T1’s successful model in the Spring 2022 season. Professionally, he has often been willing to step back to let his teammates shine. However, when needed, Faker can fully “carry the team” just like in his prime.
Regarding backstage issues, playing alongside Faker, T1’s young players have certainly learned a lot. Gumayusi has had fewer instances of “early bragging” followed by performance drops than in the previous season. Faker also comfortably allows young players like Keria to take on the responsibility of calling the team instead of himself. Playing alongside a legend, and being free to express themselves, it’s no surprise that Zeus, Oner, Gumayusi, and Keria have shone in turn.
This is the factor that makes it very difficult for other teams to learn from T1. Because there is only one Faker in the world. Many skilled League of Legends players exist, and there are quite a few legends, but none can compare to Faker in talent, character, and impact. Therefore, T1’s success may also be “one of a kind” in the history of contemporary League of Legends.