Buzz
Faker is the cornerstone of T1's success, making it a tough act for other teams to follow.
During the Spring 2022 LCK season, T1 stood alone with an unmatched record of 20 wins and no losses, a first in both LCK and League of Legends history, led by Faker and his team to their 10th LCK championship.
The extraordinary success of T1 in the Spring 2022 LCK season sets a challenging benchmark, with unique elements not easily replicated by other teams.
High-Quality Youth Training Program
The key to any team's success lies not in star-studded rosters but in a robust youth training system, a testament to T1's current lineup, mostly homegrown talents including Faker, with the exception of Keria.
Speaking of youth development, T1's dominance in the LCK leaves no room for doubt. Not only do they groom top-tier players for their main roster, but they've also been a breeding ground for talent in the LCK and even the LPL. Names like Scout (EDward Gaming), Berserker (Cloud9), Gori (FunPlus Phoenix), and Burdol (DWG KIA) all attest to the quality of T1's talent factory.
Therefore, when players like Zeus and Oner are promoted to the main roster, they immediately showcase their talents. While Zeus officially joined the main roster in Spring 2022, Oner had already proven his worth in the 2021 Worlds. Had DK not shone in Worlds 2021, it might have been T1 facing off against EDG in the finals in Iceland.
In the current LCK landscape, aside from T1, hardly any youth academies demonstrate comparable quality. This isn't just a key factor in T1's winning formula but also an investment in the future. With players like Zeus, Oner, and Gumayusi performing exceptionally well, T1 can confidently look towards their long-term journey.
Belief in Homegrown Talent
Owning such a high-quality youth academy, it would be a grave mistake not to capitalize on the talents they've nurtured. Gumayusi, Zeus, and Oner have all lived up to the expectations of the team management and the fans. In fact, if Canyon wasn't the linchpin for DK, the entire Spring 2022 group stage lineup might have comprised T1 players.
As they entered the playoffs and eventually the LCK Spring 2022 finals, it was the young players who took turns shining, bringing T1 their 10th LCK championship. Notably, Oner, who had been overshadowed by Canyon, emerged as the MVP of the finals. What could be sweeter for T1 and Oner themselves?
A Coach Deeply Rooted in Team Spirit and Player Dynamics
The true essence of T1's success, previously SKT T1, lies in a coach's deep bond and psychological insight into the team's culture and its players. Notable examples include Coach kkOma, the interim duo Moment and Stardust in 2021 following Daeny - Zefa's departure, and currently, the likes of Polt, Bengi, and Moment.
While Coaches Kim and the Daeny - Zefa duo weren't lacking in talent, they missed a crucial element: grasping the team's culture and winning the players' hearts, especially in their interactions with the legendary Faker.
Coach Kim's approach often publicly mixed critique with praise towards Faker. Meanwhile, Coach Daeny boldly benched this legend, subtly critiquing Faker in public. Despite Faker's undeniable slump in performance, the failure of these coaches to truly connect with the team members contributed to their lack of success and T1's challenging times.
Currently in LCK, finding coaches who truly understand the team's culture and connect with the players is challenging due to the immense pressure for results. This scenario mirrors the unique position Coach kkOma once held, emphasizing the need for teams to be patient and coaches to be genuinely committed to achieving success together.
The Most Crucial Element: A Leading Figure Like Faker
Hồi kỳ chuyển nhượng cuối mùa giải 2021, T1 đã gia hạn hợp đồng với Faker. Đây là thương vụ được cộng đồng LMHT chú ý bậc nhất. Không chỉ vì mức lương khủng mà T1 hứa hẹn với Faker mà người ta còn chú ý đến những điều khoản được CEO T1 hé lộ ngầm trong bản hợp đồng: Faker sẽ có quyền góp ý về việc xây dựng đường lối, cũng như về thành phần BHL của T1 ở mùa giải 2022.
Và chính từ thông tin mà CEO T1 tiết lộ, có thể nói, Faker đóng góp rất lớn vào mô hình thành công của T1 ở Mùa Xuân 2022 vừa qua. Về mặt chuyên môn, không ít lần anh sẵn sàng lùi xuống làm nền cho các đồng đội tỏa sáng. Nhưng khi cần, Faker hoàn toàn có thể 'gánh team' tựa như thời anh còn ở độ tuổi đỉnh cao phong độ.
Về vấn đề hậu trường, với việc được thi đấu cùng Faker, chắc chắn các tuyển thủ trẻ của T1 đã học hỏi được rất nhiều. Gumayusi đã ít những tình huống 'gáy sớm' rồi tụt phong độ hơn so với mùa trước. Faker cũng thoải mái để các tuyển thủ trẻ như Keria lãnh trọng trách call team thay cho mình. Được thi đấu cạnh huyền thoại, mà còn được tự do thể hiện mình, không ngạc nhiên khi hết Zeus rồi Oner, Gumayusi - Keria thay nhau tỏa sáng.
...và pha backdoor phá nhà mang về chiến thắng cho T1 ở game 2 đều do Keria kêu gọi
Và đây chính là yếu tố khiến ý định học hỏi T1 của các đội khác rất khó thực hiện. Bởi lẽ, Faker trên đời thì chỉ có 1. Tuyển thủ LMHT giỏi thì rất nhiều, huyền thoại thì cũng không ít nhưng chưa có ai so được với Faker, về tài năng, phẩm chất lẫn tầm ảnh hưởng. Và do đó, thành công của T1 có thể cũng là "có 1 không 2" trong lịch sử LMHT đương đại.
