League of Legends Worlds 2024: T1, a last dance? (11/20)

The League of Legends 2024 World Championship kicks off in Berlin on September 25th. A total of 20 teams will compete to succeed T1 at the top of the Riot Games MOBA world hierarchy. On this occasion, Sheep Esports brings you a daily feature on one of the participating teams. On September 15th, the tenth episode of our series focuses on none others than the reigning champions, the LCK’s fourth seed and most titled organization of League Esports: T1.

T1 are set to play their 9th World Championship this year, they currently hold an unmatched streak of 9 straight top 4 placements in these Championships. In other words, T1 have never finished below 4th in Worlds history (and have won them 4 times, if one needs to remind it). However, each Worlds that T1 participated in, they were considered among the favourites, not always among the top favourites (such as last year), but always among the teams that were seen as the strongest on paper.

This year, it is different since T1 has had to qualify through the LCK regional bracket in which they lost a BO5 to Damwon and closely beat KT Rolster 3-2 in the decider match. In addition, T1 has had a rough playoffs run, losing twice to HLE (3-0 ; 3-1) and overall fail to show signs of strong collective gameplay. T1's outsider status is thus more linked to their current shape in-game than their results. It has been made public that, since Spring, T1 have struggled to properly train this year due to DDOS attacks, a lack of practice that has direct impact on T1's players. In fact, although jungler Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun and ADC Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong have managed to maintain a consistent level, their consistency has been below the one they used us to in the last seasons. On the other hand, Choi "Zeus" Woo-je, Ryu "Keria" Min-seok and most notably Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok have been very inconsistent in the last weeks.

Still, T1 managed to keep their cool and prove that their minimum level is well enough to be at the top 4 of their league. However, for a team that hasn't changed for so long, seeing a regression from a season to the other is never a good sign. Despite the regional qualifier allowing every players to have their highlights at some point, they weren't enough to remove the doubts surrounding T1.

What stroke with T1's season so far is that they have relied on peak performances to place well at key events, although their usual games have become weaker than in the last season. When T1 play at their best shape possible, they can be as deadly as anyone else. However, this "purple patch" didn't show up at Summer after the EWC, contrary to Spring where T1 managed to finish 2nd and qualify to MSI, the Summer Split saw T1 being forced to draw on their reserves to qualify.

The difficulties in the LCK and the 4th seed should not let one forget that we're talking about T1: the one team that has always performed in international events and the embodiment of "performing when it matters". With the enormous experience T1 can value in their roster, they don't arrive at Worlds without strengths to rely on.

The main aspect of T1's game that has remained strong throughout the year is their teamfighting, although their lack of consistent macro has made it tough for them to play 5v5 on even grounds, if T1 is given an opening, they haven't lost their ability to punish it. Every player in T1 is a clutch player, with the master clutcher itself: Faker, as caster Medic said "Form is temporary, Faker is forever".

Last year's Worlds saw this clutch ability used to the maximum. In playoffs stage, against LNG at first, T1 showed a massive step up from the Swiss stage to demolish chinese #3 seed, keeping their streak against ultra favourites JD Gaming by winning 3-1 and lastly destroying WBG in the finals 3-0. The same team that looked like amateur against GEN.G in 2023 finals was the one to slay those who were thought unbeatable. It is therefore clearly possible that T1 could replicate such a performance.

Outside of their teamfight prowess, T1 have also established themselves as prime skirmishers when it mattered, following Oner's trail, the sidelanes are among the best fighters of the World. This means that in spite of a struggle to outmacro the enemy team, T1 can rely on a skill check to get the better of their opponent: a playstyle that can't be consistent, but that can get you several wins. And as we know, Worlds isn't a matter of consistency; it's about delivering at the right moment, with the right meta reading and decision-making, something T1 has proven capable of doing.

What other spotlight player for T1 than the first hall of famer itself: Faker. Quadruple World Champion, 10 LCK winners and the face of League of Legends returns to the grand stage once more. Nevertheless, his pedigree hasn't showed up in his gameplay this season, as he has been heavily challenged by other midlaners, failing to play toe-to-toe with his league's best level. The regional finals showed his limits as despite T1 being a better team than KT, Faker was outmatched by Bdd.

However, in Spring, when T1 had their rematch against HLE, it was Faker who led his team mates to playoffs finals. It was also him who stepped up against G2 in the MSI to crush Europe's hopes. With a meta that could see more mages on the midlane, Faker could be in a more comfortable situation. It is unlikely we will see Faker back in 2017's shape where he was 1v9ing his team to semi-finals. But if he shows up - as he always has in Worlds - T1 will be on the right track to, why not, win it all and bring back a 5th trophy.

Here's the 5-man roster from T1 coming to this Worlds edition: