Buzz
Deft receives less-than-positive feedback after KT's initial defeat in the LCK Spring 2024.
Perhaps, the match between KT Rolster and Kwangdong Freecs in the LCK Spring 2024 group stage on January 24th (Vietnam time) was one of the most unexpected. A young KDF team, with 4 out of 5 members in their early twenties, who finished at the bottom of the standings last season, has now defeated a strong KT squad with 3 out of 5 members who won the World Championship title with DRX in 2022. However, KDF's complete victory is well-deserved.
Not only demonstrating a thirst for victory, but KDF's youthful lineup also showed remarkable resilience when trailing after game 1. In particular, newcomer Bull arguably had the best day of his career, overshadowing the experienced KT lineup. Despite having young talents like PerfecT, KT lost right from the laning phase as Bull completely dominated veteran Deft on the opposite battlefield.
Before addressing objective issues or praising KDF's performance, it must be noted that the recent match was one of the worst in Deft's career. The 2020 World Champion clearly no longer fits the role of the team-carrying AD like the younger talents, specifically Bull on the opposite front. When he played on the weak side, Deft restricted BeryL's activity because it's evident that this ADC struggles to play independently. The situation where Deft moved alone to the Bottom Lane, without BeryL and without vision, only to be taken down, is the clearest evidence.
Furthermore, Deft revealed a critical weakness: poor positioning in team fights. Even when wielding a long-range champion like Caitlyn or a champion requiring careful movement like Draven, Deft couldn't contribute much. He failed to deal damage effectively in team fights and lost in lane. Even the audience has to admit: Deft's current form is arguably worse in terms of performance and skills compared to his prime in 2020.
- Deft clings to his position like an amateur
- Greetings Bull, this is Strafe
- Deft wants to 'hold onto the last dance' but...
Clearly, the elite environment seems less suited for Deft. Of course, the tournament is still long, and the future remains uncertain. However, if Deft doesn't improve soon, not only will his dream of a 'Last Dance' fall short, but KT itself will have to face setbacks in upcoming matches, especially when their next opponent is none other than T1.
