Currently, T1 is gearing up for at least two more important matches, the first being a rematch against KT Rolster. Although KT was recently defeated by T1 in their last encounter, KT in Summer 2023 is a force not to be underestimated. After losing to T1, they crushed Hanwha Life Esports 3-0 to bounce back into contention, setting up a rematch with T1. This match will also determine both teams’ chances for the title as well as the second LCK representative for the 2023 World Championship.
While T1 managed to secure a victory after being underrated compared to KT for several days, the players still haven’t shown a sense of security. In fact, right after defeating KT, they lost to Gen.G in a match where T1 held many advantages. Admittedly, they lost due to draft issues, but the root cause was a lack of focus and some excessive overconfidence. This is in stark contrast to T1 from the season when they decimated every opponent to claim the LCK title over a year ago.
Recently, in a talk show featuring former stars of SKT T1/T1 such as Mata, Khan, Wolf, and others, the senior players shared their thoughts on the younger generation. Notably, legendary Support Mata bluntly pointed out the crucial aspect that T1 has lost: “I never thought they were bad, but compared to themselves in the past, there are issues in their teamfighting. They used to give me the feeling that they were a team always looking in the same direction, but now they may have lost their confidence.”
Additionally, both Mata and Wolf shared a common opinion: “It would be wonderful if they could regain their confidence. Faker’s hands are not as good anymore, and Faker’s teammates need to maintain their confidence to win. If you think you are playing poorly, you will definitely play poorly.”
Clearly, this is evident when comparing T1 now to their past selves. This is even more apparent in the absence of Faker. The same four players that have battled through various tournaments together seem to perform abysmally without their leader. Even explosive players like Keria and Gumayusi have, to some extent, lost themselves.
Facing KT, of course, confidence alone is not enough. But the T1 stars certainly cannot win if the burden of failure and a lack of self-belief continue to linger in the minds of the young players – the core pillars of T1’s present and future.