T1 Could Become an “Exception” Because of Faker
As mentioned, up until now in the LCK Cup 2026, T1 and HLE are the two rare teams that have never activated coach-voice, regardless of their match results. And the insiders have also voiced their concerns, as Coach Homme (HLE) and Oner (T1) both confirmed worries that this mechanism could cause distractions. But for T1, there may be another reason, which lies with Faker.
Anyone who follows League of Legends understands that Faker’s in-game mindset is incredibly unique, and this aspect has helped T1 secure victories by capitalizing on the smallest of opponents’ mistakes that perhaps only Faker can see. His influence in-game is absolute, and even during T1’s crisis under Coach Daeny, Faker was willing to ask his teammates to strictly follow his commands, disregarding any tactical issues.
Currently, alongside Faker, there is also Keria and possibly Oner, who are players that frequently make short calls for T1. With such members, introducing coach-voice at any point during a T1 match may not be suitable. Furthermore, even in their recent loss to DRX, T1’s players largely lost due to self-destructive situations, and DRX played more focused. The coach-voice factor may not provide much support.
Faker is the Difference for T1 Compared to the Rest
Not to mention skill issues, as Gen.G is also a strong team and they have tested coach-voice just once in their opening match, but Faker is the difference for T1 compared to the rest. If coach-voice does not align with the game assessment and ideas of Faker, this mechanism will be useless and may not even be adopted by T1’s players.
Besides T1, HLE is also a team that has not used coach-voice. But with what they have shown, it seems that the “Orange House” may break this norm, as this team is showing signs of losing direction in their matches.