In the opening match of the fourth week of the competition and also the first match after the Lunar New Year holiday, T1 faced off against Hanwha Life Esports. Prior to this matchup, HLE had a poor record of 2 wins and 4 losses, making this seem like an easy game for T1. Especially since Faker and his teammates were in high form with 6 consecutive wins. Their two previous opponents were both in the top 4: Nongshim RedForce and DWG KIA.
However, in reality, T1 had an extremely tough match. In fact, the difficulty was not less than their encounter with DK before the Lunar New Year. The scenario was somewhat similar as T1 fell behind in game 1, crushed their opponent in game 2, and faced challenges in the early stages of game 3. HLE was even more careful than DK, securing both Dragon Soul and almost stopping T1’s unbeaten streak.
In the performance of Faker and his teammates against HLE, “nephew” Gumayusi and Support Keria continued to show excellent form. Notably, Keria was the most important player, securing the victory for T1 against HLE. His play in the decisive team fight in game 3 helped save Faker and laid the foundation for T1 to make a comeback, despite HLE being the more proactive team beforehand.
Witnessing the stellar performance of T1’s Support, fans couldn’t help but be excited. Countless compliments poured in for Keria after the tough comeback against HLE. Some even referred to Keria’s performance as “divine” level.
Joining T1 from DRX, Keria is continuously proving his value in the lineup of the most successful team in LCK history. With a diverse champion pool and creative playstyle, Keria frequently makes game-changing plays. As exemplified in game 2 of the match against DK and both deciding games against HLE, it is Keria’s excellence that sets the stage for his teammates to shine and secure the overall victory for T1.
It has been a long time since T1 has had such a “powerful” bot lane like the current Gumayusi – Keria duo, since the days of Bang – Wolf. While Faker’s “nephew” may have moments of inconsistency, Keria consistently shines against all opponents. If T1 can truly reach new heights in this 2022 season, Gumayusi and especially Keria will be among the most crucial factors, alongside Faker and the rest of the team.
