T1 continues to suffer their fourth loss in LCK Summer 2021 – a season where they aimed to win the LCK championship. However, based on their current performance, this championship goal seems nothing more than “empty words,” as with such instability and poor performance, making it to the playoffs might be considered a success for a team that has won the LCK nine times.
The peak of disappointment for T1 fans was the reverse loss against Afreeca Freecs just minutes ago. After taking the lead in game 1, Faker, Canna, and Cuzz consecutively threw away all their advantages in the following two games, bitterly accepting a painful defeat with a score of 1-2. Notably, in all four of T1’s losses up to now, the direct causes have been personal mistakes occurring at critical moments.
Faker and Canna will bear direct responsibility for T1’s loss against AF. While Canna had a dismal performance in the last two games, Faker directly handed an opportunity for the opponents to equalize by getting caught out of position in game 2.
However, what tests the patience of the fans the most is the playstyle of this team. Faker made mistakes by showing impatience in pre-fight situations, but looking at how T1 “doesn’t dare to fight even when they have an advantage,” one can easily understand why in just three games, the Demon King made two mistakes that were nearly identical: too hasty and charging in recklessly.
T1, under the new tactical direction of coach Daeny, is becoming more timid than ever. Whether they have an advantage or not, they completely concede the initiative to their opponents, which means limiting fights to a minimum before the 30-minute mark, and if there is a major objective dispute, it is always the opponents initiating first before they dare to engage.
So what was the result? AF finished off T1 after exactly one team fight, in the third game which lasted over 30 minutes. Poor lane control, poor objective control, and poor call for team fights, it seems T1 has no basis to confidently apply the late-game playstyle they currently have.
Although four losses are not an extremely dire number, the way T1 is losing reflects the disappointing face of this team, considering both player performance and game strategy, the former LCK champions are performing like a mid-tier team. Before the match, Canna said that T1’s chances of attending the 2021 World Championship were around 60 – 70%, but with performances like against AF, that number may now only be 30 – 40% at best.