Buzz
(Homeland) - T1 is anticipated to face significant challenges at MSI 2023, even in the opening match against MAD Lions.
With just a few hours left, the first match of the MSI 2023 Group Stage will officially commence. Until now, all teams have been training diligently for the crucial journey ahead. In the opening day, Gen.G will clash with G2 Esports - a formidable representative from the LEC region. Following that, another representative from the LCK will take the stage: T1 will go against MAD Lions (MAD) in their inaugural match at MSI 2023.
Against a formidable opponent like MAD, it's natural for fans to have more faith in T1. The European representative couldn't even pass the Play-In stage of the previous World Championship. Although MAD has undergone some roster changes, it might still be insufficient compared to T1. It's worth noting that even T1's critics admit that this team can only lose in the tournament's finals.
However, the LCK media doesn't place their trust in T1. According to some analyses, MAD is a team unafraid of confrontation and actively imposes their gameplay. Meanwhile, T1 tends to play defensively at the beginning of the match and focuses on other lanes while letting Gumayusi 'carry the load' in the Bottom Lane. Consequently, this might be T1's weakness for MAD to exploit. It's crucial to know that throughout the Spring Split, T1 lost matches due to their opponents' proactive playstyle.
According to LCK media, if T1 revolves more around Gumayusi and actively imposes their gameplay, the representatives of the Korean peninsula will truly have a higher chance of victory. T1's skills are exceptional, and the current version doesn't support their 'defense-first, offense-later' playstyle. If T1 alters their gameplay, there's every reason to believe that Faker and his teammates will achieve absolute victory.
MAD remains a underestimated opponent compared to T1, but in many recent tournaments, T1 has not performed well against lower-rated teams. Therefore, T1 cannot be complacent and must focus maximally to have the best possible start.
