LPL Media States “Only T1 is Profiting in the LCK”
The consecutive World Championship titles have turned T1 ZOFGK into the greatest team in League of Legends history. Faker has further solidified his status as the “G.O.A.T” in the League of Legends scene, while elevating both his and T1’s influence to a new level. However, according to LPL media, this could negatively affect other LCK teams. For those who may not know, prior to winning the 2024 World Championship, T1 already had 22 sponsors. With the successful defense of their 2024 World Championship title, this number could increase.
But the problem arises as the other teams do not have as many sponsors as T1. For example, Gen.G only has 6 sponsors. No other team exceeds 10 sponsors. Thus, it can be said that T1 alone is equivalent to about 3-5 LCK teams combined. Furthermore, as the World Champion, T1 will also earn additional prize money from the LCK.
In fact, the reality that only T1 has made effective investments in Esports within the LCK is not new. However, this issue has resurfaced during this transfer season, as there are rumors that LPL giants have approached Chovy. It seems that Gen.G’s management understands that Chovy is the only “anchor” they currently have to maintain an influence similar to Faker’s at T1. If they lose Chovy (mostly due to financial reasons), it would effectively mark the end of their reign.
The fact is, among the current mid-laners in the LCK, apart from Faker and Zeka, partially Bdd and ShowMaker, no one can compare to Chovy. But all four of these players are core members of their teams and are unlikely to be let go by KT, DK, or HLE. As for T1, there’s no need to discuss.
However, the most important issue in the LCK is: To beat T1, teams need to spend money to buy superstar players with very high salaries. But if these players cannot bring back the most important championship, the World Championship, then all investments are wasted, and T1 remains the sole champion.
And when sponsors feel their team cannot surpass T1, negotiations with the 2024 World Champion will be considered instead of continuing to sponsor teams that are not competitive for titles or can only be “kings of the domestic scene.” With dwindling sponsorship money and prize money from the LCK, teams that have “splurged on stars” are unlikely to survive. Gen.G is a prime example, having signed their current roster for only one year and is almost certain to “break apart” in the new season.
The Community Supports T1 Again
However, the audience believes that this is primarily the fault of the teams themselves. If they cannot defeat T1 in a match at Worlds, then the issue does not lie with T1. Faker and his teammates have faced numerous challenges, while Gen.G consistently dominated T1 in the LCK. But on the Worlds stage, it was Gen.G’s players who performed worse than their opponents, making their defeat completely understandable.
“The reality is that the game has entered a decline compared to before, and this is not T1’s fault. During the 2015-2016 period, when they dominated, no one said the LCK would be in danger?” – a viewer remarked frankly.
League of Legends is a game that has been around for a long time, and the LCK has been established for over 11 years. T1’s dominance is one thing, but the game itself and the teams failing to maintain their appeal are truly the factors affecting the development of the League of Legends community and the professional competitive environment.