S13 Finals T1 30 Victory over WBG to Win the Fourth Global Finals Championship in Team History, How to Evaluate this Match?
T1: The Legend of the Reversal
T1 and Faker have achieved their great feat and won their fourth championship. Ten years ago, when LPL teams reached the World Championship finals, their opponent was SKT/T1 and Faker, an insurmountable “mountain” to conquer. A decade later, T1 and Faker are still at the pinnacle, and Faker is still the “Demon King.”
Today, T1 not only won the S13 championship and their fourth crown, but also set numerous incredible records in this World Championship.
Before the quarterfinals of T1, all LCK teams were eliminated in the quarterfinals and round of 16, leaving T1 as the sole representative of the LCK region. As the pre-match promotional video said, it was not LPL against LCK.
It was T1 against the entire LPL.
In this situation where teams from their own region were all eliminated, T1 accomplished a “clean sweep” by defeating all four LPL teams in this World Championship. They had a 2-0 victory against BLG in the Swiss round, a 3-0 win over LNG in the quarterfinals, a 3-1 victory against JDG in the semifinals, and a 3-0 win over WBG in the finals. They only lost a single game.
At the same time, T1 still maintains an undefeated record against LPL teams in the knockout stage of the World Championship.
For the T1 team, winning the championship is the most beautiful “fairy tale ending” for these five players in the past two years. Since the beginning of the S12 Mid-Season Cup, T1 has not won a championship. What is even more dramatic is that T1 reached the finals in most of the matches, but always fell short of the championship. They have even been jokingly referred to as “great runner-ups.” Despite being a team that has been the runner-up for a long time in the past two years, their confidence was not shattered by crucial defeats, but instead, they continuously pursued the goal of becoming champions.
In the previous World Championship, top laner Khan was suppressed by Kingen’s Jayce, which was one of the important reasons for T1’s loss in S12.
This year, Khan not only mastered a special technique to counter Jayce with Yone, which had an excellent effect, but also in the second game today, when Yone was banned, he still chose Gwen to face off against Jayce and achieved the same suppressing effect, proving himself once again.
Additionally, Khan has a high win rate with Jayce in this year’s World Championship, whether countering Jayce or using Jayce, Khan has undergone his own evolution. The last game with Jayce also demonstrated his dominance.
Similarly, in last year’s World Championship finals, support player Keria cried with his hands shaking after the finals.
But this time in the World Championship, Keria did not let the opportunity slip away. In the knockout stage, he roamed all over the map as the AD support, playing like a “roaming dragon” and displaying deep champion pool.
In the finals, he played Lenna with stability and suppression in the laning phase, and his ultimate in crucial moments turned the tide of the game. His Flash + R combo in the second game directly secured the win.
Oner went from a slump in the summer split, to ganking, supporting, and controlling neutral resources in the World Championship. His performance has consistently been top-notch. In today’s World Championship finals, his blind pick Lee Sin and Nocturne were always looking for opportunities to make plays, breaking through WBG’s defenses.
Little Lu Bu also fulfilled his talent, showing immense lane presence and terrifying team fight damage alongside Keria.
As for the four-time champion, Faker, the victory in S13 truly solidified his “godlike” status, making it even more difficult to surpass. He has truly achieved not only the highest peak in League of Legends, but also the longest river.
Just as Faker, who had already won multiple championships in S6, said in his autobiography “The Undying,” he wanted to be the best role model, and he stayed true to his words: “Perhaps one day, I mean perhaps, perhaps one day, when future generations look back on my illustrious career, they will remember the good things. If the children of the future want to become the next Faker, I will definitely be the best role model for them."
In the promotional video for this finals, Faker said this line, and this fourth crown is dedicated solely to his teammates.
Faker has also achieved it, and the T1 dynasty continues.
T1 vs WBG: Faker’s Return
Hello everyone, I am Yin Tian.
There was indeed a huge difference in performance between the two teams today. The 3-0 result means that WBG was unable to pose any trouble for T1. In the first game, the draft put the players at a disadvantage, in the second game, T1 broke through the top lane, and in the third game, they were overwhelmed in terms of execution. From player reserves and pre-match preparation to in-game execution and on-the-spot judgment, WBG was simply not a match for T1 today.
On the other hand, T1 not only has more reserves and versatile tactics, but the players' form and in-game decision-making are also excellent. Faker, who was born in 1996, is still performing at a high level, and Zeus, born in 2004, has become a top player. T1’s players have maintained their top form since the quarterfinals until today. Behind the four consecutive championships is the hard work of the past ten years. Perhaps no one will be able to surpass Faker’s achievements in the realm of League of Legends in the future. He is the true GOAT, with true sincerity and dedication.
If you ask me about my view on failure, I think it is nothing more than facing the gap and trying again next year. I have been watching games since Season 3, and it can’t get worse than the dark ages of Seasons 5 and 6. The greater the opponent, the more challenging and valuable it is. If you give up because of a setback, that is true failure. Think about how many setbacks T1 has experienced in the past two years. Only those who never give up can go all the way.
Let’s review this BO5 match.
Game 1
- Draft Analysis
T1 didn’t change their first three bans throughout the day. In all three games, they banned Rumble, Nidalee, and Thresh. If any of these champions were picked first by WBG, T1 would have a hard time dealing with it. Wukong was also a champion that WBG had never played in the World Championship, so they had no reserves or counter strategies for it. Sylas and Seraphine were meant to restrict mid lane options, and by banning Seraphine, T1 ensured the blind pick of Gnar.
After the first three bans, WBG was at a disadvantage.
Gnar - Camille matchup was probably what WBG expected, as Jayce is good against champions like Renekton. The problem is that the curve of the Jayce-Gnar matchup is awkward. If the opponent plays a fast dragon strategy and fights for three dragons at 16-18 minutes, Jayce won’t reach his peak at that time. Waiting for Jayce to get his two core items, they will have to fight for the dragon’s soul at 22 minutes with no room for error. Moreover, Jayce can’t secure lane priority in the mid lane, so picking him first doesn’t give them a stable advantage.
This chart has been frequently used in recent analyses. This tournament, Jayce has played in 12 games with 2 wins and 10 losses.
Nowadays, the emphasis is on lane priority, vision, and resources. Team fights are built on top of lane priority and vision. In order to create a stage for Jayce to poke in the mid game, WBG needs to secure top lane priority and push the waves towards the enemy turret. However, with the confirmation of Kennen’s presence due to Zeus having Enchantress’s dominance, WBG was already in a difficult position.
In the second rotation, WBG banned Olaf and Rell, limiting Oner’s functional choices and not allowing him to play his comfortable champions. Although Oner has played Poppy in this tournament, if both the jungle and support role champions are counterpicks, it will be difficult for him to match up against Jayce in the mid game. T1 banned lane priority in the bot lane in the second round, so WBG had no choice but to pick Jinx and Lux to secure lane priority.
As T1’s fourth pick, Ahri was locked in, setting up a potential Ahri + Varus composition. In my opinion, Kai’Sa and Rell would have been the better choice here, but WBG probably didn’t have Kai’Sa in their reserves. Aphelios and Jhin can also withstand pressure, but facing a trio of Yone, Ahri, and Varus in team fights, Aphelios would have a lot of pressure to protect himself. It would be even harder to pick Lux, as she would be heavily targeted in team fights if she didn’t have an advantage. Finally, WBG settled on picking Sett into Varus, as it didn’t matter if T1 had picked Viktor.
T1 completed their lineup, and both side lanes had lane priority. This allowed them to control resources and take the early dragon. The split-pushing nature of Lucian in the top lane allowed them to play towards the mid game. With their strong early game in the jungle and support roles, T1 could play a 4-2 strategy in the early game. As long as they gained an advantage before Jayce hit his power spike, T1 would have a good chance of winning.
- Early Game Plays
Keria started with the classic Sweeper’s Lens, and T1 set up the bottom lane brush as per their usual strategy. T1 used this vision to confirm that there were no enemy wards and pushed the wave faster.
Oner’s jungle pathing not only helped the mid lane but also forced Gumayusi to ward WBG’s jungle, allowing T1 to determine the respawn time of the Scuttle Crab. This means that Weiwei’s movements in the top and bottom halves of the map would be known. If he attempted to invade the blue buff or gank the bot lane, T1 would be able to stop him since they knew his position.
Although T1 was unable to kill Xiaohu, he had already cleared the previous wave and would not lose any experience from dying since he had teleport available.
After returning to the lane, Faker shoves the wave into the turret and recalls.
Although Xiaohu couldn’t deny the last two ranged minions, he delayed his back until after clearing the wave at 4 minutes and 28 seconds, as the next wave would be a cannon wave. This allowed Faker to quickly push the wave towards Xiaohu’s turret, forcing him to lose experience.
At 4 minutes and 46 seconds, Faker pushes the wave into the turret and recalls.
This manipulation of the minion wave allowed T1 to gain an experience advantage, although Xiaohu did not lose any minions. However, when he goes back to lane, Faker pushes another wave under the turret, causing Xiaohu to lose more experience.
At 5 minutes and 28 seconds, Faker pushes the wave further, and Xiaohu is forced to use teleport to catch the wave, placing T1 in control of the mid lane.
Moreover, relying on their lane priority, T1 invades WBG’s jungle and steals Weiwei’s camps.
From TheShy’s perspective, during this time, he should have placed a ward in the brush or over the wall and stayed behind to soak experience, as he hadn’t seen the enemy team’s jungler yet. He shouldn’t have taken a minion until he saw the Nightmare, as his team was playing towards the top half of the map.
However, TheShy tried to make a risky play, but it failed and resulted in his death, exploding the top lane matchup. TheShy had already lost half of the matchup.
The top lane matchup was completely destroyed in this play. TheShy’s best move here would have been to place a ward in the brush or over the wall and stay behind to soak experience. He shouldn’t have taken a minion until he saw the Nightmare, as his team was playing towards the top half of the map.
TheShy’s misplay completely transformed the game, and Nuguri Teleporting back to the lane gave T1 a lead in the upcoming objective fight.
- Summary
There was no way to win this game. T1 controlled the entire map, and WBG couldn’t do anything about it. Although Weiwei made some moves in the early game, he couldn’t give the mid lane an advantage against T1. Gaining an advantage during the mid-game was crucial for WBG, but they had no room for error. Once they made a mistake, it was all over.
Game 2
- Draft Analysis
In the second game, WBG picked Azir and banned Lillia, aiming to secure lane priority for Xiaohu.
From the draft, it was clear that WBG wanted to pressure the Xayah-Lulu lane and shut down T1’s bottom lane. T1, on the other hand, secured a strong late-game carry by picking the Aphelios and Rakan combination. In the second ban phase, both teams focused on jungle champions. T1 banned champions that could counter their composition or protectacles while WBG banned champions that could synergize with Akali and could potentially carry the game.
By the end of the draft, WBG had chosen a good composition with lane priority, crowd control, strong jungle presence, and a roaming support. T1, on the other hand, had a composition that relied on execution and aggression. Their top, mid, and jungle champions had short range, making it difficult to teamfight.
However, T1 managed to win through their execution.
- Early Game Plays
WBG started with a deep ward in the bottom lane and cleared T1’s ward in the brush, securing lane priority. T1 provided vision of WBG’s blue buff, confirming the pathing of the Volibear.
From this point on, T1’s plan to secure the first objective was clear. Oner attempted to invade WBG’s top jungle to protect their bottom lane and deny resources. WBG took advantage of their lane priority to secure vision around T1’s blue buff and potentially invade.
During this time, T1 could not confirm Volibear’s position, as Zeus placed a control ward in the river bush to mitigate any potential ganks from the Volibear. Oner, however, was able to determine that Weiwei had taken the enemy blue buff and was heading towards his top jungle.
Faker successfully reached level 2 and started pushing his lane. It’s unclear how he managed to do so against Azir, but Faker provided vision of the enemy blue buff, confirming that Weiwei had taken it.
Up to this point, T1 couldn’t determine Volibear’s position, but they continued to ping the river, suspecting that Volibear had used the F6 path to head toward their top jungle. With both side lanes being pushed and unable to 1v1 their opponents in the jungle, T1 had no choice but to play defensively.
Conversely, WBG used their lane priority to secure vision around T1’s blue buff, confirming that Sweeper’s Lens had cleared their F6 ward. This provided WBG with more information.
Oner completed his top jungle clear and moved towards the top side, prompting T1 to ping the river once again. Could it be that Volibear was heading from the F6 path to the top side after clearing their top jungle? Since they were being pushed in the side lanes and couldn’t win the 2v2 jungle skirmishes, T1 had to play defensively during this time.
On the other hand, WBG used their lane priority to secure vision around T1’s blue buff, confirming that T1 had already cleared the F6 ward. This provided WBG with more information.
Here, TheShy should not have been caught off guard. He had placed two wards and pushed the wave into the turret. He should have known that the enemy jungler was in the top half of the map. Perhaps he was trying to clear the minion wave under the turret, but that was too greedy.
After this, both junglers made their moves simultaneously, with Oner ganking mid. Pay attention to the minion wave. Xiaohu couldn’t last hit the last two minions, and the next wave was a cannon wave that would create a heightened threat.
The same applied to the bottom lane. T1 would lose out in terms of experience in the bottom half of the map, and with this gank, LighT would be unlocked.
At 4 minutes and 51 seconds, Faker cleared the mid wave and recalled, creating a heightened threat for the cannon wave that was about to arrive at 4 minutes and 58 seconds. Xiaohu couldn’t quickly push the wave to challenge Faker’s recall, so Faker would be able to return to the lane before 6 minutes.
Faker not only returned to the lane, but he also froze the wave.
This was an odd play because T1 should have been pushing the wave to create a recall timing. This way, the mid lane would have clearly been in a disadvantageous position at 8 minutes.
The answer was revealed: Faker didn’t freeze the wave for his own benefit, but he froze it for Keria. If Keria joined mid lane and shared the experience with Faker, he would be able to level up much faster. If they didn’t share the experience, Keria’s level would never catch up to Beryl’s (Beryl could roam around and collect Chime). By sharing the experience, Keria reached level 6, giving T1 an advantage in the upcoming objective fight.
Keria hit level 6 first, and if WBG didn’t respond well in the next play, T1 could have taken the Rift Herald.
Fortunately, WBG had a good response in the top jungle, securing the Rift Herald and maintaining their lane priority. They also had vision advantage in the bottom river. As long as they secured the second dragon smoothly, they could play at their pace, disrupting T1’s dragon control tempo.
WBG secured the objective after getting vision control first. T1 only had one ward in the river, and their control over the river was negated due to execution error.
The big downside was that Xiaohu went back to base to purchase items and missed his teleport timing. This put T1 in a better position for the upcoming objective fight.
To prevent WBG from securing the second dragon, T1’s bot lane gave up their wave and rotated to mid, taking control of the mid lane. Faker also rotated back to the bot lane and would be able to take control of the bot lane. In the mid lane, Keria was ahead in experience due to the wave advantage, which would greatly accelerate his level growth. If they missed this opportunity, it would be nearly impossible for Rell to catch up to Bard (as Bard could roam and collect Chimes). However, if Rell could reach level 6 first, T1 would have a chance in the objective fights.
You can see that Keria reached level 6 first, and if WBG didn’t respond well in the next play, T1 could have taken the Rift Herald.
WBG responded well to the top jungle skirmish, securing the Rift Herald and maintaining lane priority. They had control over the river, and as long as they secured the second dragon smoothly, they would disrupt T1’s dragon control tempo. However, Xiaohu’s decision to teleport back to base once again put WBG at a disadvantage, as T1 would have the advantage in the mid lane when the objective fight broke out.
For T1, giving up the wave to secure control over the mid, the priority mid, and getting Keria to six first was a great play. But for T1’s bot, not sharing XP with Gumayusi and sending him mid was probably not the correct play.
But despite the tough situation, WBG responded well with the mid lane priority and control over the top jungle. In the end, they took the second dragon and disrupted T1’s control over the game.
- Summary
Looking back at the match, it was clear that WBG was on the edge, and their communication and coordination were not perfect. The coordination of the three key ultimates didn’t go as planned. After losing that fight, the game was essentially over.
Unfortunately, WBG showed signs of weak communication and coordination, which ultimately cost them the game. They had a good composition with lane priority, crowd control, a strong jungler, and a roaming support. However, T1 executed their game plan perfectly and came out on top.
Game 3
- Draft Analysis
In the final game, WBG chose to make changes, picking Azir and banning Renekton to give Xiaohu absolute lane priority.
The draft for this game was clear. Without Camille, T1 prioritized Aphelios and banned champions that counter or synergize with Aphelios. WBG used Wukong and Olaf as jungler bans against Oner, while T1 banned Monkey King and Jayce against Zeus. The fourth pick for T1 was Lee Sin, as WBG couldn’t counter it without Poppy.
In the second rotation, WBG picked Yone and Kled to complement Azir. Furthermore, with Varus and Rakan, T1 was able to match Azir in terms of lane priority.
There isn’t much to say about this draft, as WBG had a good composition. They had lane priority, crowd control, and strong early jungle presence. T1, on the other hand, needed good execution to come out on top. Their composition required aggressive play in the early game, and their champions had shorter range, making it difficult to fight.
T1’s execution ultimately paid off.
- Early Game Plays
At the start of the game, T1 provided vision of the F6 jungle, ensuring that Oner could start on the bottom side and protect their solo lanes. WBG gave vision of the brush in the top lane. This ensured TheShy’s lane advantage.
Faker successfully reached level 2, and it’s unclear how he did it against Azir. Faker provided vision of the F6 jungle, confirming that Weiwei had started there.
From this point on, T1 was unclear about Volibear’s position, but they continued to ping the river, suspecting that the bottom side was of interest to them. With both side lanes being pushed, they had no choice but to play defensively.
On the other hand, WBG used their lane priority to secure vision around T1’s blue buff. The blue buff takes were confirmed. Weiwei tried to invade, but they were able to stop him since they knew his position.
Faker successfully pushed the wave under Xiaohu’s turret and recalled. This created a heightened threat in the mid lane at 8 minutes.
Faker didn’t freeze the wave for his own benefit, but for Keria. By doing so, he allowed Keria to share a wave and a half of experience, which significantly accelerated his level growth.
This wave management was unusual, as T1 would typically push the wave to create a recall timing at 8 minutes. This denied WBG the advantage of pushing the wave themselves and handicapped their mid lane.
Keria reached level 6 before Beryl. If WBG didn’t respond well in the next play, T1 could take the Rift Herald.
WBG had a good response, denying T1 the Rift Herald. They maintained lane priority and vision control in the top river. They also maintained vision in the bottom river. As long as they secured the second dragon smoothly, they could play at their pace and disrupt T1’s tempo of controlling dragons.
Unfortunately, Xiaohu used his teleport to go back to base, putting WBG at a disadvantage in the mid lane. When the objective fight broke out, T1 had the advantage in the Akali side lane.
To prevent WBG from securing the second dragon, T1’s bottom lane gave up the wave and rotated to the mid lane, taking control of the mid lane. Faker also rotated back to the bottom lane and would be able to take control of the bottom lane.
When the next dragon fight took place, Xiaohu could only watch as he was forced to clear the bottom wave. If T1 won the fight, WBG would lose the game.
This loss marked the end for WBG.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the biggest problem in this year’s finals was that there was no team that could match T1 in terms of skill and coordination. T1’s teamwork was impeccable, and they were able to construct the most efficient minion waves at any time and place. They were able to select extreme compositions to counter their opponents' weaknesses and make it difficult for their opponents to counter them.
T1’s games made me realize that the five players were like perfectly fitting puzzle pieces, seamlessly assembled together. They could adjust their strategies at any time in the game. They didn’t need to focus on the bot lane, they could focus on the top lane when necessary. If the enemy didn’t respond, T1 could easily win the game.
Faker: The greatest player in League of Legends
Even if we set aside his achievements, there has never been anyone in the history of League of Legends who can compare to Faker.
In the first five years, he proved to you where the limits of esports lie, and in the next five years, he showed you what “pure love for esports” really means through his own actions.
This champion, Faker, and his first three titles, are truly different. Let me briefly describe them:
In 2017, he lost the final game because of his own Karma. In 2018, he didn’t even make it to the World Championship. In 2019, he was trembling against the European and American teams. Around 2020, he started losing his tactical position and the management no longer recognized him. After a hard-fought battle in 2022, he made it all the way to the finals, winning second place against the region’s fourth seed. In 2023, he faced many challenges before the World Championship, and he even got injured and had to take a break for treatment, but his team kept losing.
Finally, after a series of ups and downs, he made it to the World Championship as the second seed, and he defeated three LPL teams in the playoffs.
What does this championship victory by Faker prove? It proves that even a god can age and no longer be a god. He will lose many games, become weak, and his hands will shake when playing against Caps. He will lose to the fourth seed, but he never gives up—
He perseveres.
This kind of perseverance is not wasting his talents in the league, playing in a careless manner, and pretending to be persistent for several years.
He remains steadfast.
This kind of steadfastness is not leaving the competitive scene and casually streaming without serious training, and then losing to the younger generation and losing his confidence before taking another break. It is not a false sense of steadfastness.
He remains determined.
This kind of determination is not just talking about being determined, but then failing to make crucial comebacks in the game. It is not a false sense of determination.
That’s right, I’m actually talking about TheShy, Uzi, and Scout.
I actually like these three players, each with their own gameplay style and charm. In particular, these three have something in common with Faker—they accumulated popularity at the beginning, thanks to their exceptional performance that surpassed their peers at the time.
But every year, the world of esports produces talented young players, just like there are people turning 18 every year.
Some of them have won an S Championship, some have won an MSI Championship, each with their own achievements. But compared to Faker, they are still a little behind.
TheShy wasted his time during his peak.
Uzi fell short in his professional career, not living up to my expectations when he pursued his dreams.
Scout failed to struggle, and even if he did, the public opinion would be worse, so he lost the game.
But I also know that comparing people is not fair. A person’s performance is a comprehensive result of many factors, and all I can say is that it’s a pity.
I am a fan of Uzi, but from his first comeback to his subsequent “every time” comeback, his mental strength is really incomparable to Faker’s.
If you really want to come back, give up streaming and practice for half a year. Start from a weaker team, find your form, and play any game that comes your way. The club is not stupid; they will consider forming a strong team once you become skilled.
If Faker had a mindset explosion after trying and failing, then in the finals of S7, the fishing incident in S8, not being able to beat Europe and America in 2019, and the disappointing performance in recent years, he should have given up long ago.
But he didn’t give up, so he always had a chance to win. After so many cycles, when it was LPL’s turn to decline, and the next generation couldn’t carry the burden, it was time for the most prepared person to shine.
From his performance in this year’s World Championship, we can see that he is completely different from his peak years. He no longer dominates in terms of gameplay or personal abilities, and he’s not the FMVP either.
But in his early years, he earned the right to stay in the best team in LCK. Even after a brief period of instability, he eventually won. In doing so, he gained better teammates from the new generation.
What’s even more incredible is that this year, even if you bring back the “Dock Your Boat” strategy, you will find that without Faker, the remaining four players can’t even defeat a team at the relegation level. This is a true controlled variable experiment, telling you that SKT is not just a team with four other strong players; even your grandma can win against them in the mid lane.
So, even though he no longer has his peak performances, this is still his team. And this is not just media hype, caster exaggeration, or fans' imagination; he has proven it year after year with “facts."
This kind of player, with four championships, spans over ten years.
Compared to veteran players who persisted, none of the players in the LPL, let alone winning an S Championship, have won an LPL Championship ten years after their debut, or even for those who haven’t retired yet.
Compared to peak performance, Faker won three championships in his first four years, and LPL couldn’t catch up after leaving that era.
Compared to off-field factors, he didn’t get caught up in scandals like abortion, seducing female fans, or getting involved in conflicts with teammates during live streaming. He didn’t do things that could get him banned, and he didn’t play games during the World Championship. He even refused to make a vulgar gesture.
He is a person with charisma, peak athletic ability, professional conduct, and long-lasting perseverance.
The highest mountain, the longest river—this Goat has shown you where the limits of esports lie in the first five years, and in the next five years, he has demonstrated what “pure love for esports” truly means.
Watching Uzi and TheShy, the talents they wasted to varying degrees, and watching Left Hand and Xiaohu. Whenever it’s the World Championship, their mental strength falls short. Of course, RNG and IG should have made better efforts at certain times, just like what SKT did. But the origin and foundation of it all is the three championships Faker brought to the organization.
We can only say that in the past six years, LPL may have had the opportunity to compete with LCK in terms of honor. But when we widen the scope to the entire history of League of Legends, before the game meets its demise, the iconic figure of the Goat will always be Faker, a genius player from the LCK.
After all, whether or not League of Legends can survive the next ten years is still unknown…
I salute you as an opponent, and then sigh lightly. It’s just another year.
Frustrating situation with a poor competitive state. T1 dominates, Faker shines. Restricted by age limit, hindering newcomers. No fuss in failure, mimicking men’s soccer. Many issues with server, causing annoyance.
Too difficult, the issue with hero spoons put the drafting in a difficult position.
The tension is visibly high, lacking confidence, not relaxed.
This is the last situation I want to see.
In contrast, T1’s drafting is very confident, although not flawless in execution, they are still comfortable.
This is how T1 has been throughout the whole series.
In the playoffs they focus on the top lane, creating opportunities in the bot lane, in the finals they focus on the bot lane, creating opportunities in the top lane.
Whether it’s a fast game or not is no longer important.
Their competitive state has reached its peak.
Too strong.
The gap is clearly visible.
What makes me most frustrated is that T1, with their champion roster, will still have top-level competitiveness next year.
While we are limited to players over 18 years old.
Congratulations to T1.
Four-time champion Faker, I don’t need to think of any more magnificent phrases to describe him. He is the highest mountain and longest river in the history of League of Legends.
Congratulations to Faker.
The age restriction has hindered the emergence of new blood, and the league’s management is relatively closed off, and there is even an inverse version of Asian Games training.
You have to console yourself, indeed we won MSI, which is still a bottom line. But let’s be real, if we didn’t win the championship at Worlds, then the whole year was a failure, all for nothing.
I know some fans don’t care, as long as our brother is handsome.
But those players who won the championship years ago are now just “mediocre” in the league, and the handsome guys are already in their late 20s, approaching the end of their careers.
You can mention Faker, but the problem is who can imitate Faker? There is only one Faker in Korea.
But just this one Faker has resisted the entire LPL for 10 years.
This year, it was finally said that we would produce a little yellow man, but either they were benched or there was internal strife, and the results have not yet been achieved, only focusing on playing these petty games.
Focused on results, playing the same three strategies every day, it’s either protect the carry or play for the late game. They still bring out champions like Jayce and Maokai, who have fallen behind in several patches, in the finals. It really leaves people in the dark.
So many coaches paid high salaries, so many data analysts, so many training teams, but it’s all just playing house.
The coaching staff hasn’t figured out the key elements of the meta, and the players are not willing to practice harder. Once they reach the World Championship, they panic, exposed and struggling, showing their true colors.
It’s really becoming more and more like men’s soccer.
And then there’s the server issue. How many years have we been dealing with it? How many changes have been made? And now, players still have to go on the Korean server for ranked games.
I really can’t think about these troubles anymore, even the thought of it is a mess.
Damn it!
T1 overcomes WBG, strong strength in the LCK region
I didn’t dare to say it before the match, as there were too many followers and cloud fans.
Congratulations to T1, the four little ones have worked hard and finally fulfilled their dreams.
As for WBG, I just want to say:
Don’t blame them too much. They were originally the fourth seed. If the first three seeds win one game, it’s unfair to expect the fourth seed to win three games.
Why shouldn’t we blame WBG too much? Let me explain:
The teams eliminated from the LCK region are still helping T1 in training matches, while the first, second, and third seeds from the LPL region, after losing, immediately bought tickets and left the next day, either for tourism or to go home.
The fourth seed has no training matches to arrange, they can only play ranked games, and their morale is low. What can they do when all five players are outperformed in each game?
Furthermore, you would know from watching T1’s internal videos before the match that Tom is the lifestyle coach, mainly responsible for logistics.
Faker and Keria are responsible for drafting within the team, and Faker takes the lead in post-match analysis (for example, after not performing well in the Swiss round, there was a video analysis session backstage where Faker was sitting there analyzing, while the others stood behind listening attentively).
Therefore, it’s true that the head coach warms up and prepares for the game before going on stage…
And I remember there were reports before the match saying that T1 could come up with at least ten different team compositions. If you want to beat them, the hero pool of the team’s players must not be restricted.
But well…
Last year, they were just one step away, and this year, they have swept through the enemy troops.
It can only be said that LCT (LCK) is indeed strong…
Comparison Between T1 Coaching Staff and WBG Coaching Staff
Fun fact: T1 doesn’t have a coaching staff, the players do the drafting themselves. The current coach of WBG used to be a coach at T1.
The current coach at T1 is only there to take care of the players' daily lives and order takeout. If you pay attention to T1’s broadcast room, you will find that there are only three people there.
Despite having a systematic coaching staff, WBG still falls far behind T1 in terms of drafting. Their drafts are often exposed, showing no thought put into them. On the other hand, T1’s drafts always bring something new and interesting to the table.
The LPL really needs to reflect on its own league, coaching, and player system… They should no longer rely on individual plays and Korean imports.
A lack of a mature industry system is like a agricultural country competing against an industrialized country. Even without coaches, the other team can still perform at this level. No matter how much money or how many people you have, you can’t beat Korea.
That’s enough, time to step down.
Faker’s Choice of Skins
In 2016, at the 2016 League of Legends World Championships, SKT won the championship. The host asked Faker, “Which skin would you choose?” Faker said Syndra. Then the host asked, “Why not Ahri? Aren’t you a big fan of that champion?”
Faker replied, “I’ll choose her next time!”
In 2023, SKT is no more, but Faker is still Faker.
“We have a telepathic connection, don’t we?”
———
You’re already the highest mountain, do you still want to be the longest river?
Absolutely.
———
Since people are reading this answer, let me say a few more words.
I started watching games during the S4 All-Star event, which was already considered late. However, I remember it was in May or June, and it was also the first time I heard of Faker. One vivid memory I have is a comment from Joker (I believe it was him) who said, “Faker’s mid-lane play is so good. His card mechanics make you feel like he’s an assassin, blocking your escape route when you’re retreating.” It was later that I heard the term “card mechanics” associated with Faker from Dashenma.
That year’s All-Star event also had a memorable moment when Yuzi’s level 4 Pantheon fought against a level 6 Praying Mantis. The funny blame meme after the game is still fresh in my mind.
That year, SKT did not make it to the World Championships. I remember seeing on the LOL Box website that Samsung defeated SKT, but I didn’t think much of it.
Sometimes you’ll find it interesting—there was a team called SK back then, and their jungler was banned for four games (or two weeks, I forget) because his name was accused of insulting China. I only remember the last game was against TPA, and the AD carry picked Ezreal and had no regrets. The interesting thing is that many years later in S8, when I was watching the jungler from the C9 (3:0 AFS) team, I felt like his name was very familiar. Then I realized it was the same jungler from SK back then.
S5 was destined to be SKT’s year. Bang with a 70+ KDA, Smeb and Marin shining, and Ssunday. The next time they met was in S8. S1mple’s prediction and Flash killed Faker’s Kassadin with the Shy’s Riven. I forgot which team was it, but their mid-laner C4 provoked Faker and picked Katarina, only to be solo-killed by Olaf. Also, the moment when they met EDG and the mid-laner flashed at the right moment to kill Pawn. That year had many memes, like the Bangkok Titans and their Asian package. The “last dance” of OG led by the European Emperor. Oh, and C9’s top-laner, Balls (again, it’s C9), with the pentakill on Nasus, winning the first round 3-0, but losing every match in the second round and going home. And the miracle run of the Flash Wolves, qualifying with three consecutive victories (it was written in the scrolling title of the game room). Also, Soaz’s Nasus stealing Baron and getting a pentakill, but Joker’s poison milk was still funny~
On the LPL side, Wang Xiaozhang said that if IG didn’t make it to the World Championships, they would be screwed. Kakao played Scorpion, and IG had a very miserable loss that year. As for LGD, I won’t say much about them—Arrogant Sin, picking skins before the game, not banning Malphite, and in the end, it was only a pale moon going home without any regrets, ending with a whimper. The only thing I remember about EDG is Kim Chuan Deng. The interesting thing is that I remember staying up late to watch a game on my computer. At that time, it was EDG’s turn for the pick and ban phase. I was so tired that I dozed off for a while, and when I woke up, they were still in the pick and ban phase. I really felt like I had traveled through time. It was only later that I found out it ended in a 4-0 defeat.
To be continued when I have time.
Rise of New LCK Stars
Newcomers in LCK:
Zeus, who made his debut at the age of 18 (previously, no one knew how long he had been in training for)
Prince ad of GenG, also 18 years old
Newcomers in LPL:
Leave, 21 years old
Players under 18 are not allowed to play games, which means this region will have no future. It is highly likely that the era of Korean imports will begin and BLG will become the last vestige of youthful vigor in LPL.
Congratulations to Li Xianghe. He is ushering in a new era as the demon king of LCK and has also gone through the low period of LCK. Now, he will lead LCK to new glory.
T1 Wins 3-0 and Secures the Championship
Congratulations to T1 on their 3-0 victory over WBG to secure the championship.
Although we ultimately did not witness a miracle, T1’s 100 consecutive wins in the World Championship has undoubtedly proven to everyone who the true legends are in the history of League of Legends.
Achieving the unprecedented feat of winning four titles is a testament to their unparalleled dominance, and it will be difficult for any team in the future to surpass this.
Faker’s success is a result of his perseverance and determination.
In the first two games, even if we could still attribute the disadvantage to the draft, in the third game, T1 was completely outplayed by WBG’s sheer strength, leaving no room for doubt about the outcome.
Let’s first talk about the players' performance.
What were the strengths and weaknesses that we believed WBG had before the match?
Undoubtedly, the shy in the top lane was their strongest player. Facing Lee Ge and Oner, the jungle duo, could pose a threat.
But the outcome turned out to be completely the opposite.
If we were to choose one representative moment from the vast array of the shy’s plays, it would undoubtedly be his mastery of Jax.
However, the shy’s Jax was completely countered by Zeus with two different champions. In the second game, WBG even set up the team to pave the way for the shy, taking down Yone and allowing Zeus to counter the shy’s Jax with Gwen head-on.
It is well-known that the shy enjoys taking risks and making flashy plays. We all thought this would be his moment to shine.
Then, in the next second, he used his Q+E combo and gave himself away, resulting in the collapse of the top lane.
After the top lane fell apart, the bottom lane also made mistakes. Knowing that they didn’t have Flash or any major summoner spells, they shouldn’t have fought against the three members of T1. DragonX’s Kai’Sa, Liu Qing-song, and Light were completely oppressed in the early game.
The fact that WBG made it this far was mainly due to the strength of the shy, who could play champions like Camille, Jhin, Kled, and Lucian to great success.
But a player like the shy, who had performed so well, was completely crushed by Zeus. WBG’s chances were slim from then on…
On the other hand, our biggest concern before the match was between Kanna and Faker. Lee Ge seemed less dominant after losing his Thresh and Azir.
Although Oner was strong, WeiWei’s versatility, amazing pathing, and dragon control were all exceptional, and the difference between them wasn’t that significant.
The biggest discrepancy actually turned out to be the top lane… (Of course, T1’s execution in team fights was also superior, which contributed to their victory.)
Let’s talk about the strategic preparations.
In the first game, WBG played too conservatively. Their outdated composition, combined with a weak laning phase, put immense pressure on WeiWei (because his teammates couldn’t provide assistance). If it weren’t for WeiWei’s clear thinking, their early game would have been in shambles.
Playing conservatively against a team like T1, known for their aggressive playstyle, put WBG in a passive position. T1’s rotation and Zeus’s exceptional team fighting abilities completely broke through WBG’s defenses.
The preparations from both sides in the second game were worlds apart.
T1 pulled out three unexpected champions: Draven, Nocturne, and Gwen.
Although WBG countered Draven, Nocturne and Gwen proved to be devastating in the front line.
In the previous game, WeiWei picked Malphite, thinking that they could play around team fights. However, Oner didn’t give them a chance. He aggressively invaded and took advantage of the fact that Malphite’s early-to-mid-game jungle presence was weak. WBG didn’t consider protecting their jungle.
As for the top lane, it goes without saying that it completely fell apart.
Lastly, let’s talk about the performance in team fights.
The third game was WBG’s best in terms of draft, and they had gained a lot in the early and mid game.
The bottom lane held steady in the laning phase, and Bard’s excellent roams resulted in kills on Zeus. The pace was completely under control, and it seemed like WBG was close to taking over the game.
So how did WBG lose?
It was all because of one team fight.
When it comes to this stage of the game, if your win rate in team fights is extremely low, it reveals a difference in raw strength.
WBG faced immense vision pressure in this team fight. With Sett and Gwen positioned on each side, what could they possibly do?
Bard’s ultimate, Emperor’s Divide, and Kennen’s ultimate were all wasted without any effect. This ultimately determined the outcome of the team fight.
It can only be said that WBG was not able to hold on.
Without the magical play of the shy in the top lane and with less synergy in team fights, WBG was unable to defeat T1, whose teamwork and vision pressure were always dominant. T1’s team fight composition maintained its integrity better than WBG’s, and that’s not to mention the 27-year-old Faker, who achieved the great feat of becoming the Thunder God before winning his fourth title.
This wasn’t just a confrontation between LCK and LPL; it was the final spark of LCK, challenging the entire LPL region. T1’s victory of taking down their opponents 3-0 was a success.
Congratulations to T1, and LPL can try again next year.