After days of anticipation, MSI 2022 officially kicked off with a showdown between T1 and Saigon Buffalo. The VCS representative was considered vastly outmatched, but fans were still hoping for a spectacular game. This is because teams from Vietnam’s League of Legends are known for their aggressive playstyle and willingness to engage in fights. Meanwhile, T1 is currently the “unstoppable force,” and many were eager to see how Faker and his teammates would secure their victory.
However, surprises occurred right in the early minutes of the match. Even before the monsters had reached the first turret, the bot lane was already in a fight with a proactive Flash – Devourer attack on Gumayusi – Keria. First blood went to Shogun, but soon after, he had to exchange his life. Shortly after, SGB gained a slight advantage. T1 continued to play rather slowly while Gumayusi was exploited by SGB as much as possible.
Nevertheless, T1’s difference in this match lay in Oner’s pick of Vi. This jungler had a perfect day, covering the entire map without any losses, if not to say that he was significantly superior to Bean J. With Oner tightly controlling major objectives and executing perfect ganks, T1 regained control of the match. Then, in critical team fights, T1’s macro skills shone through, and SGB simply had no chance. Froggy’s frequent deaths further shattered SGB’s chances. The “Buffaloes”‘ efforts only allowed them to hold out for 26 minutes before witnessing T1 claim victory.
With this victory, T1 showcased their superior class. Moreover, the win on their debut will provide a comfortable psychological boost for Faker and his teammates in the remaining group stage journey. Additionally, the “Demon King” also made an impression with a chilling solo kill against Hasmed.
As for SGB, no one can blame the VCS players. They gave it their all, but the gap in skill was just too great. However, if they can maintain the level of play seen in this match, a top 6 finish is entirely within reach for Coach Ren and his team, as their next two opponents, DetonatioN FocusMe and Team Aze, can be considered on par.