Buzz
(Motherland) - Perhaps T1's leadership and Faker himself comprehend the current situation.
Recently, T1 once again suffered defeat against Hanwha Life Esports (HLE). Naturally, facing a star-studded team like HLE, and once again missing Faker, it's understandable that T1 had to accept defeat. Overall, in their last 5 matches, they only managed to win against Nongshim RedForce. All remaining 4 matches were lost with a score of 2-0, and currently T1 sits at 5th place in the standings. However, T1 still has the autonomy to determine their fate in the playoffs.
In this scenario, the most anticipated thing for fans is Faker's return. T1's Mid Lane has been plagued by injuries since the match against NS in the first round, leading to an unstoppable decline. Poby may not lack talent, but the overwhelming burden of replacing Faker has hindered this young player from performing at his peak. The absence of Faker makes T1 resemble a headless snake, not its true self. The rare exception who has maintained form is perhaps only Gumayusi, but he remains too isolated.
At this juncture, many fans are just realizing Faker's true role for his team. He is the captain, the Mid Laner, the one who shapes T1's playstyle, and the spiritual leader, as everyone already knows. But moreover, Faker is the one who allows his teammates to perform with peace of mind. In reality, T1's current players, despite their considerable experience, are mostly 21 years old (Gumayusi, Keria, and Oner). Meanwhile, two players, Zeus (2004) and Poby (2006), are too young, with Zeus not even 20 years old.
With Faker's presence, T1's young stars gain a certain level of confidence in their performance. Because Faker not only knows how to command T1's playstyle but also can rectify, guide his teammates if, unfortunately, there are mistakes. One viewer bluntly remarked: 'Without Faker, T1 seems like 5 solo queue players teamed up together, and each plays individually strong.'
Perhaps the day Faker returns is not far off. However, T1 fans only hope that the team can at least demonstrate talent and character even without Faker. Because everyone understands that Faker will eventually have to rest, and no one wants that to become the reason for T1's failure.
