T1 and Zeus Set to Debut in LCK Cup 2025 with Mixed Results
One of the biggest dramas in the final quarter of 2024 in the League of Legends community revolves around the matchup between T1 and Zeus. The young star born in 2004 has captured the attention of the global League of Legends community. After recent incidents settled down, fans eagerly awaited the performance of the related characters. Unfortunately, both T1 and HLE faced defeat in the LCK Cup 2025.
In the match where both teams fell short, the two top performers became the focal point. However, one notable discrepancy arose: Doran has shown a significantly better performance than Zeus, at least in terms of effectiveness in different match stages. On the other hand, Zeus from HLE struggled to make an impact, and when compared, Kiin had a standout day against the T1 star.
Overall, the debut of T1 and their “fellow” player created quite a stir. However, the performance of T1 ultimately overshadowed Zeus – HLE significantly.
T1’s Paths Ahead Look Promising Compared to Previous Seasons, but Zeus Faces Challenges
Furthermore, if Doran continues to align with Faker (or even Oner), T1 might consider this as a “key unlock” for Keria and Gumayusi to thrive amidst the diverse challenges posed by their opponents. Additionally, Faker would also benefit from champion picks like Ahri, Azir, and Orianna without worrying about poor combos that could undermine his performance.
Moreover, with champions like Jax, Doran could emerge as a sleeper pick. Specifically, in 2024, Doran’s Jax has performed significantly better than Zeus’s Jax (85.7% win rate over 14 matches compared to 42.9% over 7 matches). Doran also has a strong handle on champions like Gnar and K’Sante and could create significant pressure against champions like Rumble and Twisted Fate.
As seen in the recent match against DRX, T1 has been aggressive in allowing Doran to utilize various champions while enabling him to contribute significantly to the team’s strategy and resource allocation for Gumayusi. It seems DRX was overly dominant, but at the very least, T1 has provided Doran with opportunities to prove himself in crucial matches.
In contrast, Zeus continues to face considerable challenges. He has been accustomed to primarily taking on a resource-absorbing role while being the designated playmaker for the team, especially with Gumayusi. Now, he seems to be overshadowed by Viper unless he wants to concede that Zeka is also a threat.
And it seems likely that HLE won’t be changing their lineup anytime soon, especially when Zeka and Viper contributed significantly to HLE’s LCK championship win last year. If that’s the case, either Zeus will need to adapt, or he may find himself “far away from T1 and Faker” in the coming matches.
