T1’s Rookie Controversy at LCK Cup 2025 “Dares” to Confront Faker
After an early conclusion to their journey at the LCK Cup 2025, T1 players will have some time to relax before the official start of the 2025 Regular Seasons. However, a new drama has emerged, this time directly involving Faker. Reports indicate that the recent rookie controversy surrounding T1’s Smash involved actions deemed as “confronting” Faker.
Specifically, according to information from the voice communication during the match released by T1, the situation arose during Smash’s debut match (T1 vs. KT Rolster). At that time, teammates were complaining that Smash was causing too little damage. Faker also expressed concern: “Why don’t you upgrade your Ionia boots? (for Ezreal)”.
Despite the pressure from the veteran player, Smash did not explain why he was only focusing on his own personal performance, which seemed ineffective. Notably, the match was a lost game for T1 (game 2), and while Smash’s Ezreal was somewhat impactful, it still couldn’t lead the team to victory.
The League of Legends Community is Divided over Faker – Smash Incident
In reality, the incident has generated significant backlash within the T1 fan community. Many T1 fans in China see this as an “unacceptable” act by Smash. One fan lamented: “When Faker speaks, you should listen and interpret as the king, not just follow your own thoughts”.
Furthermore, Smash’s performance in the first two matches (debut match against KT) only raised questions about his readiness. This has frustrated many T1 fans. Ultimately, when Smash appeared, his teammates were supportive to create the best environment possible. However, this time, Smash was only recognized for two games of his debut while game 2 marked a defeat for T1, and Smash received significant criticism yet couldn’t “carry the team”.
However, for many League of Legends fans in South Korea, the incident appears minor. Faker reportedly only expressed concern without intending to blame Smash. Moreover, it was just Smash’s debut match, and Faker had never previously experienced intense conflict with a junior player.
Therefore, it seems this could merely be a drama sparked by the reactions of T1 fans. However, it is also a reminder of the serious nature of issues surrounding T1, which can arise from seemingly trivial actions.
