T1 Coach Defends Doran Despite “Criticism”
Although T1 fans have just experienced the first week of the LCK Cup 2025, they may sense that a challenging season awaits. It’s important to note that T1’s opponents in the first week were teams considered to be “inferior” such as DK and DRX. However, Faker and his teammates only managed one victory against DRX on January 18 after losing 1-2 in their encounter with DK. This might not be the ideal start for a championship-contending team like T1.
Following the loss to DK, Doran faced considerable “criticism” from the audience, who felt that he had played poorly. The outstanding performance of young player Siwoo from DK only intensified the scrutiny on Doran. Nonetheless, T1’s “captain” – Coach KkOma has recently spoken up to defend his new student amidst this pressure. He even asserted that Doran possesses a special ability and will shine in the future.
“All of our members are skilled players, and Doran is no exception. I am trying to help him gradually adapt to the team instead of forcing him into a specific mold. This year, LCK has implemented the Fearless Draft format, which requires players to have a wide champion pool and adapt well to various strategies. Doran is a player who can perform well with any champion I ask, so I believe he will shine even more in the near future,” Coach KkOma shared.
Doran May Shine in T1’s Colors Thanks to Fearless Draft
Indeed, looking back at Doran’s champion pool in the 2024 season, fans can see that Coach KkOma’s comments are entirely justified. Doran in the 2024 season is a player who can adapt extremely well to the game’s meta and utilize “unconventional” champions when needed. Notably, Doran was able to play Twisted Fate and Rek’Sai Top during the Spring LCK 2024 when they suddenly emerged in the meta. Additionally, this player is also willing to play Skarner or Nasus whenever requested by the coaching staff.
It’s important to note that with the new pick/ban format called Fearless Draft, teams in a Bo3 or Bo5 match may need to employ various strategies and approaches. In this context, a player who adapts well to strategies and has a wide champion pool like Doran will have a significant advantage. Essentially, T1’s 2025 season has only gone through 2 matches, so Doran still has plenty of time to adapt to the new team. It’s highly likely that after getting to know his teammates better, Doran will rise strongly and shine brightly in T1’s colors.