Before embarking on their journey at the World Championship (Worlds) 2023, the recent Summer Split of LCK can truly be seen as a rollercoaster for the members of T1. From being championship contenders, they lost Faker and immediately fell into a crisis. However, when Faker returned, T1 even defeated the then-top team in the group stage, KT Rolster. Although T1 continued to lose in another final after that, it is clear that when they have their full roster, they are a team not to be underestimated.
However, according to experts, the importance of Faker is undeniable, and when T1 has enough personnel, they are very strong. The only issue is that having Faker and still failing in important finals is a reality that has been evident. Even when they were an undefeated team (like Spring 2022), T1 still lost to Royal Never Give Up. Clearly, it’s not just about Faker’s role; the other players also present many issues.
Recently, former Fnatic coach YamatoCannon shared his insights into T1’s issues. Specifically, the veteran coach of the European LoL scene stated: “Zeus and Gumayusi are the two best players in T1 right now (besides Faker). Although Gumayusi sometimes makes critical mistakes, he has also been a support for T1 in many matches. However, Oner and Keria are the real weaknesses, as their synergy is poor after the laning phase. It wouldn’t be fair to place all the blame solely on Oner. If balance is maintained, T1 is an extremely strong team, but I think they are currently unstable.”
Clearly, for a long time, Oner’s sudden drop in form has been acknowledged by T1 fans as a significant factor contributing to the team’s failures. But looking at it more broadly, some players themselves, such as Keria, have also lost the sharpness and unpredictability he showcased when playing the Support Marksman role earlier in 2023. And when two key factors in making plays somewhat lose themselves, it’s understandable that T1 struggles in tournaments.
At Worlds 2023, this may be the last time this roster competes together. And surely, if there are changes when the season ends, no one wants Worlds 2023 to become a sad memory for the members of T1.