Oner Admits T1 Was “Outplayed”
Despite securing a 2-0 victory against the bottom-ranked team DN Freecs, it was evident during the match that T1 faced significant challenges. Oner, the jungler for T1, noted that they struggled throughout much of game two. The team encountered numerous difficulties, and without the extraordinary moments from the duo of Gumayusi and Keria, the outcome could have been quite different. After the match, Oner acknowledged that the opposing team had effectively outplayed them right from the start.
Specifically, T1’s jungler remarked: “DN Freecs may be at the bottom of the standings, but I felt like we were playing at 200% of our capabilities, and we could have easily lost to any team. We were well prepared for the Viktor pick, especially with the Nocturne – Orianna combo. However, when the enemy team used Sion and Trundle, we realized that we had been outplayed and that things were different. Choosing Nidalee was merely a situational choice because we wanted to force the enemy into a 4v4 situation. We encountered many challenges when assessing the situation.”
The reality of the match also revealed that if T1 had not executed an ideal team fight at the Dragon pit, the opposing team could have capitalized on their weaknesses. DN Freecs’ strong bottom lane was consistently pressuring T1, and Doran’s Nidalee was often forced to play defensively. Furthermore, T1’s choice of going for a strong dive composition was hampered by the enemy’s effective counters, leaving T1 wondering how they could manage to execute their strategy successfully.
T1’s Hopes for a Fragile Top 2 Finish
One reality is that T1’s chances of finishing in the top two are still very much alive, especially with HLE’s recent struggles in all their matches. However, if HLE wins just one more match, their chances of surpassing T1 could become more favorable, especially if HLE manages to secure a victory against T1 later on. Thus, T1’s upcoming match against HLE could be pivotal in determining their fate.
However, HLE is not to be underestimated, and if T1 continues to struggle with their execution, they may face difficulties in the upcoming 2024 World Championship. This season, T1 suffered a significant defeat against HLE, leading to increased pressure as they prepare for their next encounter.
