Can Faker And T1 Have The Ability To Win Worlds?

Heavy is the crown for four-time Worlds champion and LCK superstar Faker and his team T1, who yet again makes it to this year’s big stage. The Worlds 2023 title defenders had to prove themselves throughout a rocky season and have seemingly failed, being the last out of 20 teams to qualify for 2024’s ultimate tournament.

T1 suffered heavy losses to Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) in the LCK Summer Splits and narrowly clinched the final LCK spot in the do-or-die Regional Finals battle against KT Rolster. Their last-minute qualification was not very promising and was even enough for many to conclude that T1 is about to face a “long overdue fall from grace”. Yet, as history has shown, counting out T1 at Worlds is often a mistake.

Is their performance enough to determine their shots at victory, or will another clutch performance reclaim their glory? 

Faker’s Wavering Reign

“Form is temporary, Faker is forever,” and yet even the mid-lane legend has struggled with inconsistent plays. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, widely regarded as the greatest of all time in League of Legends esports, appears to be currently outshined by other LCK mid-laners in the Summer Splits and Regional Finals. The 28-year old pro player’s current form has led some to wonder whether he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Nevertheless, Faker’s track record is unparalleled. The LCK prodigy with a sharp game sense has a record-breaking nine Worlds appearances and four Worlds trophies to his name. He also shares with T1 the reputation of delivering when it matters most on international stages. Whether we will see the Unkillable Demon King’s dominance return in Worlds 2024 remains a question, but not a far-off possibility.

T1’s Strengths: Never Count Them Out

While it is true that T1 comes into Worlds 2024 at one of their lowest points, their current strengths are not to be ignored. The team’s peculiar knack for always showing up at Worlds, no matter how impossible it looked, proves that they still have what it takes to compete among the best teams in the league.

T1’s current advantages are their teamfighting prowess, skirmishing abilities, and experience. They excel in coordinated teamfights, where they often turn games around through superior set ups and near-perfect execution. Meanwhile, Oner stands as one of the best junglers known for his dominance in the side lanes, and the rest of T1 are also capable skirmishers. While struggling with their macro plays, T1 can still make sharp decisions that become their keys to winning battles, as they have proven many times by making unbelievable clutch performances.

With a currently unbeaten 9-time streak of never touching anything below 4th place, there is no question about T1’s experience. On their top form, every member is among the best in their respective roles, testament to their individual skills. Their roster’s synergy and level of familiarity also comes as one of their advantages, having remained unchanged since their season debut in 2022.

Worlds Meta: A Potential Advantage

In addition, the patch this Worlds 2024 seems to be favoring AP mid-laners and AD carries in the bot lane. Faker struggled with the previous meta that leaned towards AD mid-laners, and this shift towards mage champions may just work in his favor.

Throughout his career, Faker has consistently excelled on mage picks, like his signature champions Orianna and Ahri. Now that he can comfortably access his favorites from his champion pool, it might just help him regain his form. Lee “Gumayusi” Minhyun can also use some of his usual AD picks, Jinx and Varus, to adapt to this meta change with an advantage. 

Road to Redemption

A legacy of being the most decorated team in League esports history has its perks, but the cons outweigh those in times like these. T1’s seemingly undefeatable image has subjected them to harsher criticisms with every defeat. They end up being held to higher standards, a Worlds qualification their bare minimum.

With T1’s recent underwhelming performances, it’s almost too easy to say that the team doesn’t stand a chance at this year’s championship title. Yet, the answer to whether Faker and T1 can still win Worlds is not as obvious as it seems.

Teams like Gen.G, Bilibili Gaming (BLG), and HLE are now considered the strongest contenders for the title. Once again, T1 will enter Worlds as unpopular favorites, but their consistency at the international stage allows for surprising upsets and strategies. Without additional pressure resting atop their shoulders, they may be able to relax and execute these with precision. This has already worked in their favor before, the most recent example being last year.

Due to Faker’s month-long break that put the team in danger of not qualifying, T1 also barely made it to Worlds 2023. They faced similar doubts, yet were able to turn the tides, claiming glory with a stellar, dominant performance that defied all odds. This year might just follow the same script, and T1’s underdog status might just set the stage up for a greater redemption story.

The Rift Awaits: Make Them Believe

After their last-minute entry as LCK’s 4th seed, T1 is set to play their first game on October 3, 2024 at the Worlds 2024 Swiss Stage. Whether they can rise to the occasion remains to be seen; it is up to T1 to make everyone believe. They’ll need to overcome their recent form issues, improve their macro-plays, adapt to the tournament meta, and outperform several strong teams to prove that they still have what it takes to be the tournament champions.

As the current rulers wearing the Worlds crown, T1 stands to achieve another historic record should they succeed in defending their title. The team will be the first ever to be five-time Worlds champions, and the only one so far to have two back-to-back wins. While it is tempting to dismiss their storied legacy, to write T1 off Worlds would be premature. Their wealth of experience, clutch factor, and the potential for Faker to return to top form make it possible for T1 to reclaim their place as legends; perennial threats in the Summoner’s Rift.