As we know, during the recent Play-In stage of MSI 2022, major teams like T1, RNG, and G2 Esports all achieved a perfect record. Although they only faced “weaker” teams, maintaining this undefeated streak shows that the aforementioned teams are in extremely good form at the moment.
For T1’s AD Carry, Gumayusi, he found the MSI 2022 Play-In stage relatively boring. In an interview with Korizon Esports, Gumayusi stated that he had only showcased about 30% of his ability during the recent Play-In stage. He also mentioned that the matches in the Play-In were not very exciting, and Gumayusi is eagerly looking forward to facing stronger teams.
Question: Congratulations on an undefeated Play-In stage, how do you feel?
T1 Gumayusi: Honestly, I don’t feel very excited about the matches in the MSI 2022 Play-In stage. It lacks excitement, and I really want to face stronger opponents in the next round.
Question: In the final game, T1 chose a rather unusual bot lane duo of Kalista – Rumble. Can you explain this choice?
T1 Gumayusi: We tried to play as many champions as possible, so Kalista was selected. When the opponent locked in Braum, Keria mentioned that Rumble could counter that champion, so we chose him as Support.
Question: Many fans say that T1 is hiding strategies in this Play-In and not showing their full strength. How much of your power do you think you have displayed?
T1 Gumayusi: To be honest, I feel like I have only shown about 20-30% of my strength. Yet the whole team was able to perform well and achieve an undefeated result; I feel like I was carried through the Play-In.
Reflecting on Gumayusi’s performance in the recent Play-In stage, we can see that he and Keria were the most tested positions for T1. First, T1 selected the Lucian – Nami duo right in the first match, even though they had hardly used them in the previous Spring Split. Next, T1 even experimented with a non-farming Senna strategy, requiring Gumayusi to play like a Support, so it’s understandable that he hasn’t showcased his full strength yet.
Moreover, the bot lane duos in the Play-In stage did not pose much difficulty for Gumayusi and Keria, except for the opening match against SGB. Therefore, the idea of “hiding strategies” is quite normal for T1, as their solo lane areas and superior macro ability are more than enough to secure victories. Hopefully, in the upcoming Rumble Stage, Gumayusi will have his wishes granted when facing formidable opponents like RNG and G2, who have incredibly strong bot lane players.