T1 holds favorable time, place and people
With the defeat against Hanwha Life Esports in the LCK Summer 2024 Loser Bracket Finals, T1 had to play in the regional qualifiers for the first time in many years to seek a chance to go to Worlds 2024. In fact, T1 only needs to win exactly 1 match in this round to go to London right away. However, the opponents in the regional qualifiers, except for Dplus KIA, all defeated T1 at least once in the LCK Summer 2024 group stage.
However, T1's chances are extremely bright when the only opponent who could not defeat T1 even after facing each other in the LCK Summer playoffs – DK, is the team that will face T1 in the first match of the upcoming regional qualifiers. And it can be said that this could not be a better opportunity for T1 to take the 3rd seed position to represent LCK to CKTG 2024. Because, first of all, the last time DK won T1 was in Summer 2023, when T1 was short of force because Faker was injured. Since then, DK has not found any more victories, even when they changed their personnel.
Next, T1 players are definitely determined to reach Worlds 2024. They had a disappointing Summer and probably no T1 player wants to become a former champion even before they start their title defense. Moreover, the match against DK can even be considered the deciding match for the entire season. If they lose, T1 can already imagine the criticism this team will receive.
In addition, both teams have their own inconsistencies, but DK is somewhat unpredictable and volatile. Even when they have many advantages, DK cannot completely convert them into victories. Their personnel are good, but they are prone to mistakes, and the two names Aiming and Kingen will be especially noted.
Meanwhile, T1 players may have poor form and results against HLE and Gen.G, but they still know how to win against the remaining teams. DK and KT in the last Summer understood this clearly. T1 will not hesitate to do it again to have an overwhelming victory over their opponents.
But T1 should not be subjective.
However, DK is also the only team in the past 4 years to have a “clean” victory against Gen.G, who were still in extremely good form. And that is something that T1 cannot be subjective about. ShowMaker is still showing that he is completely capable of creating breakthroughs. Not to mention, if Aiming or Kingen do not “stumble”, they can completely make T1 “regret”.
But for the majority of audiences and experts, a victory for T1 is completely possible. If Faker and his teammates play with the highest level of concentration, a place in the 2024 World Championship for them can be decided right after the first match of the upcoming regional qualifiers.