In a context where both their performance on the field and internal team dynamics are unstable, T1 had to welcome a Gen.G Esports that was in excellent form, sitting at the top of the LCK Summer 2021 standings.
In fact, just a day before the match, T1 announced a personnel change that caused confusion, as Teddy was benched and replaced by young AD carry Gumayusi. Clearly, T1 fans had reason to envision yet another defeat, but Faker said no. The Demon King shone brightly and led his teammates to completely annihilate their timeless rivals with a score of 2-0, in a match where Faker was “immortal” in the literal sense.
The replacement of Teddy with Gumayusi did not significantly impact T1’s victory; rather, what stands out is that this team completely transformed in their confrontation with Gen.G – a move believed to be orchestrated by the T1 coaching staff, as the draft/pick phase showcased a remarkably different T1.
This team proactively chose a composition strong in the mid-game and implemented a strategy focused on the top lane, where Canna utilized carry fighters. As for Faker, in both games, he used Twisted Fate and Renekton – two champions with significant influence in the early and mid-game, in different ways.
T1 played extremely proactively, completely different from their “turtling” performances in previous matches. They did not hesitate to engage in fights, even though GEN was the one initiating attacks more often. With both Canna and Faker winning their lanes and getting ahead early, T1 effectively capitalized on these advantages to execute quality counterattacks.
Personally, Faker executed his lane duties excellently despite facing a fierce opponent in Bdd. Furthermore, he returned to his role as the main shot-caller, making crucial decisions that led to T1’s victory.
With KDA stats of 1/0/9 and 5/0/11, Faker had an “immortal” game and absolutely decimated his opponents, earning him praise from many experts as the standout player of the match. More importantly, the confidence and decisiveness have returned to the T1 team, and fans will have renewed faith in this team’s strong comeback in the later stages of the season.