Rated as the underdog in the LCK Summer 2021 Playoffs semifinal match-up, T1 showcased an incredibly proactive approach to the game. Faker and his teammates confidently opted for a lane-dominant composition that controlled the early game in most matches, clearly focusing resources on the two sides, with Canna and Teddy as the main powerhouses.
Although this playstyle quickly got doused by Gen.G Esports, who took an early lead in Game 1, T1 remained steadfast in their strategy, continuing to allow Canna to play carry in the following games, while also picking strong early-game jungle champions for Oner.
T1’s gameplay proved significantly more effective with Faker using Ryze in all three subsequent games, instead of the “adventurous” pick of Irelia in Game 1. While not the main carry, Faker’s renowned laning ability with his signature Ryze left GEN completely powerless in their attempts to attack T1’s mid lane.
As a result, after 4 games, T1 made an impressive comeback, defeating Gen.G Esports with a final score of 3-1, thanks to the standout performances of Canna and Teddy. Notably, in Games 3 and 4, T1 even faced the risk of being defeated.
When they were confronted with a backdoor that left their Nexus with just 2 hits away from exploding in Game 3, or a series of winning team fights from Gen.G in Game 4. However, both Canna and Teddy managed to save T1 from certain defeat. In Game 4, when the entire T1 team was falling, instead of retreating, Teddy made a very wise decision to pursue the low-health GEN members alone. Teddy’s “targeting” Qs caused GEN to win the fight, but suffer significant losses, as they couldn’t secure any major objectives and allowed the opponents to respawn first, while also losing all their summoner spells.
Winning the match 3-1, T1 officially advanced to the LCK Summer 2021 Finals against DWG KIA. Additionally, Faker and his teammates also officially secured their spot at the 2021 Worlds after a year of absence.