T1 Defeats Gen.G, Claiming a Critical Victory
Returning to the LCK, T1 faced off against the formidable opponent Gen.G, continuing their experience with Smash. It goes without saying that this matchup is a significant challenge for T1. However, in this encounter, T1 managed to secure a hard-fought victory. Notably, the strategy employed by T1 was a tactic that Gen.G had previously utilized effectively: both teams were fully focused on a single carry, the Xayah.
Despite T1’s near failure to implement this strategy earlier when Gumayusi was in the lineup, the execution of this tactic required all four members to support the carry effectively. Moreover, when Doran played Rumble, he remained a significant damage source, highlighting his essential role in the team’s success.
In Game 3 against Gen.G, commentators noted a moment when Keria cleverly avoided an animation from the enemy team to prevent a crucial death in the Smash scenario. Additionally, throughout the three games, Keria did not move directly towards the contested lane but instead focused primarily on supporting his own carry.
This strategy clearly suited Doran and Faker, two players who are highly accustomed to the playmaking role. However, with Oner and Keria, this tactic unintentionally limited the aggressive playmaking of both players.
In Game 3, a highly synergistic combo for T1 involved Viego and Galio, which replaced the typical Nocturne-Galio pairing to ensure that Smash did not have to share resources with Oner. Keria remained mobile around the Smash area but was rarely seen engaging in any significant vision contests.
T1 is Likely to Continue Using This Strategy in Future Matches
If T1 continues to employ Smash in upcoming matches, this strategy will still be applied effectively. The champions that Smash predominantly utilizes require a significant amount of resources (Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Zeri). The Xayah pick does not present any unique challenges. Even when Keria was actively supporting, Smash still struggled against Ruler across all three games.
Therefore, the current strategy could represent a significant shift for T1. However, this could also be a “double-edged sword.” Just as Gen.G has become a “victim” in international tournaments, the heavy reliance on a single carry strategy can leave T1 vulnerable.
