In the final match of the July 21st game day (Vietnam time) during the group stage of LCK Summer 2023, T1 will face off against Hanwha Life Esports. This match is considered tougher than their encounter with Dplus KIA (DK). HLE is an unpredictable team, even without their captain Clid. However, T1 faces a greater challenge as Faker is almost certainly going to be absent again.
From here, an invisible worry is gradually creeping into the minds of T1 fans. Specifically, before the match against HLE, T1 has a record of 7-5 (7 wins – 5 losses). This team still has 6 matches left (including the match against HLE). Among these, there is still one formidable name: KT Rolster, who has only lost one match in LCK Summer 2023 so far.
As for T1, they will need at least 2 more victories to secure their place in the playoffs. Of course, theoretically, T1’s record is still considered safe, as they are 3 wins ahead of the team right behind them, Kwangdong Freecs. However, anything can happen, especially in the context that T1 has yet to see the return of Faker. With weaker teams such as OK BRION or KDF, T1 fans still cannot feel confident. The reason is that this team has already lost to DRX in the first round right after Faker’s absence.
If in the worst-case scenario (which has a very low probability, under 10%, according to recent statistics), this would be an undesirable outcome, especially when there have been many hints from the players that 2023 is the final season for the current lineup. This is because T1 cannot be called strong enough to threaten any team. Moreover, teams like KDF, OKBRO, or even DRX are very eager to defeat T1 to solidify their position in the standings.
The match against HLE is certainly not a do-or-die situation for the T1 players. However, with enough determination, caution, and strategy, T1 can certainly think about victory. This would be a good psychological foundation for the players and it is an opportunity that the T1 stars must seize to still be able to control their own fate.