A few hours ago, T1 and Gen.G faced off in the winners’ bracket final of the LCK Spring 2023 qualifiers. This was a highly anticipated match between two “fierce rivals” and top contenders for this year’s Spring Championship. Additionally, the winning team would secure a spot at the upcoming MSI 2023 in London.
True to the audience’s expectations, both teams delivered an exciting match. Except for the fourth game, which had a slightly slower pace, the first three games kept viewers on the edge of their seats until the last minute. Although Gen.G put in the effort, T1 appeared too sharp and well-prepared for this match. Faker and his teammates won 3-1, becoming the first LCK team to secure a spot at the upcoming MSI 2023.
It cannot be denied that T1 had an excellent day of play, but many fans also believe that a large part of the blame lies with Gen.G for “self-destructing” during the matches. The main reason is that in all three losing games, individuals made serious mistakes during crucial moments, leading to immediate losses for the team. The most notable example was the team’s miscommunication during the Elder Dragon in the second game. Although the Gen.G players are experienced, they handled this situation too hastily.
In particular, Gen.G made a mistake by picking Malphite but allowed him to appear in the deciding game. Clearly, Doran could not effectively use Malphite when Gumayusi (the primary target) was too well-protected. Moreover, T1 was always prepared with spells, items… to counter Malphite, making this choice by Gen.G almost like giving T1 a “free” champion.
– “T1 is really good, but Gen.G please just bury Malphite already.”
– “Chovy plays Jayce well while Doran’s Shockwave goes astray.”
– “T1 always has players who use Jayce well, huh?”
– “Did Gen.G self-destruct to drop to the lower bracket to increase difficulty?”
– “Not as thrilling as the match against KT.”
This defeat leaves Gen.G in a tough spot, as both of their opponents in the lower bracket, HLE and KT Rolster, are very strong. As for T1, they will have a more relaxed time and more preparation for the upcoming finals, no matter who the opponents may be.