Series of Mistakes by the LCK Champion Impact T1’s Performance in the T1 Tournament
There was an unexpected situation that drew attention, specifically during the playoffs leading up to the Gumayusi 2025 season, which was the fierce match against Dplus KIA in the LCK Cup 2025. With some unexpected restrictions, DK managed to defeat T1 with a score of 2-1. In this rematch, it also concluded with a score of 2-1, but the victory belonged to T1. However, the mistakes made by the reigning champions significantly impacted their chances in the 2024 World Championship.
Gumayusi’s nervousness was evident, as he faced immense pressure and made decisions that were somewhat questionable. Clearly, Gumayusi was eager to prove himself, and this drive was commendable. However, this eagerness also created pressure for his teammates at T1. Evidence shows that in all three games, Gumayusi faced at least one critical error situation. Fortunately for him, after the match, the entire team performed well, securing a victory despite his errors.
Next, the performance of Doran and Keria, along with Faker, is noteworthy. In all three games, Faker had his best performance in Game 1, while the mid-game of Game 3 was also impressive; however, Game 2 was marked by two “disastrous” moments. Doran also displayed a level of performance that was significantly impacted when utilizing certain strategies effectively. Meanwhile, Keria was notably more mobile, contributing to several key plays for T1 throughout the match.
T1 Needs More Time to Stabilize Their Strategy
Although they secured a win against DK, no one can truly gauge whether T1 has fully adapted to their gameplay or if they are still trying to define their five-player roster consistently. Even the teams themselves may be uncertain. However, especially when T1’s gameplay falters, they will certainly need more time to establish their strategy effectively.
Moreover, T1 is currently facing challenges compared to all other teams in the league this season. If they still hope to secure a spot for MSI 2025, they need to accelerate their performance further. To achieve this, the first step is stabilizing their strategy, and critically, the players need to regain their former synergy that once helped them claim the championship in the 2024 season.
