During the offseason transfer period at the end of 2021, T1 was one of the teams undergoing significant personnel changes. Although they didn’t completely overhaul their roster like DWG KIA, Gen.G Esports, or Hanwha Life Esports, T1 did part ways with several players, including Canna – the only one from the main roster during the recent 2021 World Championship. Additionally, T1 extended Faker’s contract in a “record-breaking” deal that captured the attention of the entire League of Legends community.
However, with Faker gradually becoming more of a playmaker and shot-caller, and with fewer jaw-dropping plays that left both fans and opponents stunned, it’s highly likely that in the new season, the duo of Gumayusi – Keria will determine T1’s fate.
Gumayusi – Keria are in top form
At the recent 2021 World Championship, if one had to choose the strongest bot lane duo, many would immediately think of T1’s pair. While other duos like Viper – Meiko (EDward Gaming) favored stability, Ghost – BeryL were inconsistent, and Ruler – Life didn’t stand out, Gumayusi – Keria held over 50% of T1’s strength.
This duo absolutely dominated the KDA statistics after the Quarterfinals, with Gumayusi boasting a “perfect score” and Keria ranking first in KDA despite being in the Support role. It’s even more remarkable considering it was Gumayusi’s first time at an international tournament, especially at the World Championship, and their Quarterfinal opponent was HLE – a familiar rival in the LCK. This demonstrates that the T1 duo has both the mentality and high performance, not at all overwhelmed in their first major tournament together at the World Championship.
Keria showcases a gameplay style full of unpredictability with bold picks, unafraid to try new things, as exemplified by using Thresh the Reaper in an official match. Another aspect is that Keria has been the only consistent name in T1 even during the time of Coach Daeny – who preferred a rotating position style while in charge.
As for Gumayusi, he is gradually making T1 fans forget the veteran AD Carry Teddy. Since returning in the LCK Summer 2021 Finals, Gumayusi hasn’t lost his position again. At the recent 2021 World Championship, despite it being his debut at such a major tournament, the 2002-born player performed exceptionally well and didn’t give Teddy any chance to step on the stage.
T1’s gameplay
Since they began dominating the League of Legends scene, T1 has rarely had a gameplay style centered around any specific lane. When Faker was still in top form, they had MaRin, Duke, and a bot lane featuring Piglet, Bang, and Wolf, all of whom were strong. Later on, Canna, Faker, and Teddy also maintained stable performance. T1’s roster can be considered one of the most balanced in League of Legends. Even currently, T1 is consistent across all positions while most teams tend to lean towards one side, or play on two sides with mid lane only at an average level. For T1, any lane poses a threat, even Faker – who is now on the decline of his career.
Another factor is that T1 has always had talented AD Carries and has succeeded with those names. During T1’s crisis, it coincidentally occurred when the team did not have AD Carries on par with Bang – Wolf from the past, until Gumayusi – Keria emerged. In previous years, while Teddy was stable, he was only at a decent level. Moreover, T1 also lacked a competent Support for Teddy, until they acquired Keria from DRX.
The ripe moment
Currently, the LCK in general and T1 in particular are entering a generational transition phase. Former talented AD Carries like Deft have reached the decline of their careers, and currently, Gumayusi only has to compete with Teddy, Ruler, and Ghost… Among these, perhaps only Ruler is truly concerning. Teddy has already been replaced by his younger teammate while Ghost has failed to maintain his form and has been replaced by deokdam.
Looking further ahead, on the side of their great rival LPL, perhaps only duos like Huanfeng – ON (Weibo Gaming), GALA – Ming (Royal Never Give Up), and Viper – Meiko are the most formidable. The common point of all these duos is that they are all in good form, youthful (except for Ming and Meiko), and have excellent synergy with each other. Additionally, Uzi has made a comeback and Doggo has also performed well at the recent 2021 World Championship. However, while the “Super AD Carry” may not maintain 100% form due to a long hiatus, Doggo lacks experience in harsh tournaments.
The 2022 season is highly anticipated and incredibly important as LCK and LPL players prepare for their domestic leagues, MSI, World Championship, and Asian Games. This is the opportunity for the duo Gumayusi – Keria to showcase their talent, lead T1 to glory, and help their senior Faker complete the final chapter of his legendary career: the fourth World Championship trophy.