MSI 2024: T1 Faker Explains Near Loss to G2 Esports
The match between T1 and G2 Esports at the MSI 2024 was intense, with the 2023 League of Legends World Champions on the verge of losing to their LEC rivals. The last time G2 Esports defeated T1 in a best-of-five was five years ago. Back in MSI 2019, G2 made history by defeating SK Telecom, now rebranded as T1, in an explosive 3-2 match during the single bracket semifinal, ultimately claiming the championship title after sweeping the floor with Team Liquid.
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In the recent quarterfinal series, G2 initially held a 2-1 lead, showing promise for a smooth victory that no one expected. Despite the confidence boost, however, T1 managed to reach game five, where they defeated the European squad thanks to a formidable mid-jungle combination of Ahri and Lee Sin, expertly played by Faker and Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun. During the post-game interview, Faker shared his insights into the challenges T1 faced and how they persevered despite nearly losing to G2 Esports at the League of Legends MSI 2024. Reflecting on the match, Faker acknowledged G2's extensive preparation for the series, which led to some challenges that T1 was not ready to face. He noted that they faced heavy consequences due to G2's thorough preparation, which led to G2 dominating the early stages of the series. However, as the series progressed, T1 managed to overcome these obstacles, leading to their eventual victory in the decisive match. |
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When questioned about what failed for T1 in this series, Faker pinpointed three key factors. First, he confessed that their response to G2's early game strategy fell short, which undoubtedly stemmed from a lack of preparation. Secondly, he admitted that their understanding of G2's playstyle was lacking and guaranteed that with more research and preparation, T1 should boost their strategy to a point where this near-loss won’t happen again. Lastly, Faker acknowledged that T1 made numerous mistakes throughout the series.
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Reflecting on the fans’ anticipation surrounding the G2 versus T1 matchup, Faker shared his thoughts on the similarities and differences compared to previous encounters. Despite expecting some changes in G2's playstyle as time passed, Faker noted that there were striking similarities to their previous matchups, which he found surprising yet remarkable, both due to the way the meta shifted in League of Legends and due to the effort required for a squad to remain consistent throughout the years. He believes that G2's determination is commendable, especially considering that even T1 went through a few rough patches recently. He emphasized that the series entertained fans and praised the teamwork that long-time head coach Kim "kkOma" Jeong-gyun facilitated. |
In response to a question about areas for improvement following the series, Faker expressed a desire to boost all aspects of their gameplay, ranging from the laning phase to team fights. In one word, "everything.”.
Looking ahead, T1 advances to the upper bracket semifinal against Bilibili Gaming, the LPL team that eliminated them from MSI 2023 last year. Meanwhile, G2 Esports will face PSG Talon in the lower bracket in round one.
You can watch all the action of League of Legends MSI 2024 live on Riot Games' official Twitch and YouTube channels.
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