In the epic clash on February 12 (Vietnam time) during the fourth week of the LCK Spring 2022, T1 convincingly defeated Gen.G Esports 2-0. This is a crucial victory for T1, not only defeating another opponent but also extending their unbeaten streak to 8 matches, while Faker and his teammates have overcome yet another direct competitor in their quest for the title this season.
However, it must be acknowledged that Gen.G faced numerous difficulties before entering the match against T1. Key players such as Peanut, Lehends, and Doran had to rest due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gen.G had to call up young talents from the LCK Challengers to fill in. Even in the match against T1, Chovy had to return to the top lane, where he previously played, instead of his usual mid lane position. The role of mid laner for Gen.G in the match against T1 was taken by Quid, and the victory against Faker was a tall order for this young player.
Many viewers also noted that T1’s victory over Gen.G was somewhat easier due to the loss of too many key players for Chovy’s team. Although Faker and his teammates secured a convincing win, the Covid-19 pandemic took away the excitement that was expected from this match. Some even suggested that Gen.G “self-destructed,” especially in game 1, after having acquired the Earth Dragon Soul.
Nevertheless, a victory is still a victory, and T1 players demonstrated excellent resilience despite having many advantages taken away by their opponents. With this victory over Gen.G, T1’s chances of finishing the first half of the season unbeaten are wide open, especially as their final opponent in the first half is KT Rolster, a team that has been very inconsistent. If they can maintain their unbeaten streak, T1 will have strong psychological momentum heading into the second half of the season, potentially breaking their own unbeaten record established back in Summer 2015.