The Biggest Hope of T1 Ends in Disappointment
On the evening of May 28 (Vietnam time), T1 faced a crushing defeat against Hanwha Life Esports, effectively dashing their hopes of finishing in the top 2 at the end of the 2025 Regular Season group stage. Although their journey in the MSI 2025 playoffs is still ahead, T1 remains hopeful about their upcoming match in China. However, despite the rarity of such losses, it’s undeniable that Faker had an underwhelming performance, which contributed significantly to T1’s defeat.
In both matches, Faker seemed overly cautious, playing much more defensively than usual. In Game 1, his Viktor spent too much time trying to farm, resulting in a lack of presence during crucial team fights. In the second game, his Galio was barely utilized, and his mistakes led to T1 losing ground significantly. Additionally, a pivotal moment where Faker played too conservatively in Game 1 allowed Zeka to capitalize and gain an advantage.
Of course, it’s unreasonable to expect Faker to always shine, but his cautious playstyle is understandable given that any mistake could cost T1 dearly. However, as mistakes accumulate, they become more frequent, and T1 has faced this issue repeatedly. Faker and his teammates showed excessive caution. Meanwhile, Hanwha Life Esports capitalized on unexpected situations and exploited T1’s strategy in both matches, despite T1 having numerous opportunities to secure victory in Game 1.
T1 Must Correct Mistakes Before the Upcoming Playoffs
The upcoming playoffs will leave no room for errors, and T1 is acutely aware of this. In their matches against Gen.G or Hanwha Life Esports, Faker and his teammates must seize every opportunity but cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. Against formidable rivals, even minor miscalculations can lead to significant consequences. Therefore, T1 must refine their strategies to minimize mistakes and ensure that they are prepared to adapt to new challenges to secure victories against Gen.G or Hanwha Life Esports.
