T1 are going to Worlds 2021 after securing a top two finish in the LCK Summer Championship. Can they defeat DAMWON Kia next week or will they have to contend with the Worlds play-in?
T1 have qualified for the 2021 LoL World Championships following a 3-1 victory over Gen.G in the LCK semifinals. The three-time World Champions secured a LCK Summer Grand finals slot where they will face off against DWG Kia.
On the line is the coveted LCK 1st-place seed, which would mean a massive difference in the team's seeding going into Worlds. This win also marks the team's return to the League of Legends World Championship stage after a gap of two years. The team missed LoL Worlds last year and will be looking to make an impact in 2021. T1's performance also affects Gen.G's placement at Worlds 2021, so all eyes will be on the LCK Summer 2021 Grand finals next week.
Teddy dominates the series; secures two MVPs
Gen.G started the series on the right note with a win off a 20-minute Baron play. But T1's players took their time to get going in the series, building their synergy and coordination. Park "Teddy" Jin-seong's return to the roster was a key factor in the team's performance and dominance in the series.
The botlaner spent the majority of the 2021 LCK Summer Split on the bench, giving rookie Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong an opportunity to earn valuable experience. However, Park "Teddy" Jin-seong's absence impacted the team's performance in the tournament. The players were constantly struggling to adapt to his absence, which reflected in the team's results. Back in action, Teddy styled over his opponents in the semifinals match helping T1 win the series.
The series featured some exciting plays, including a backdoor attempt (it was so close) by Kim "Clid" Tae-min and Gwak "Bdd" Bo-seong. It was a desperate attempt, a valiant one at that, but T1 was ready to defend their Nexus.
The 23-year-old put on a commanding performance on Ezreal to help solidify the series for T1 in the final two games. Teddy ended game 3 with a 8/1/6 scoreline on Jinx. While it was a strong performance, it pales in comparison to his game 4 performance on Ezreal. Gen.G had a sizeable lead and advantage in Game 4, but Teddy's Ezreal stole the show with some clutch plays.
The AD Carry was instrumental throughout the last two games, steering the teamfights around the Baron and Elder Dragon. Teddy was the MVP in Games 3 & 4, earning the title based on his performance in those games.
How are T1 already qualified?
LCK now have 4 seeds at the 2021 LoL World Championships due to DWG Kia's Championship title. In previous years, T1 would not have qualified for the LoL World Championship based on their current Championship points. T1's top two finish at the LCK Summer 2021 guarantees the team at least 100 points, that would comfortably give it a top three finish.
T1 still has a lot to play for in the Grand finals. While the team is confirmed an appearance at Worlds 2021, an LCK Summer win would put T1 directly in the Worlds group stage. If they lose to DAMWON Kia, T1 will have to go through the play-ins for Worlds pushing Gen.G (having 150 points over T1's 130) to the Worlds group stage.
Why was this win important for T1?
The stakes were very high for T1 going into their semifinal matchup against Gen.G. Due to the lack of a 3rd/4th place match, a T1 loss would've resulted in a 4th place finish in the LCK Summer Split. This would have meant Nonshing Redforce would have more points than T1 and have qualified for the LoL World Championships based on their third place seeding. T1 were able to take down Gen.G and secure their spot at the LoL World Championships.
Four LCK teams will play in the 2021 Worlds this year. With DAMWON Kia, T1 and Gen.G having already locked in their slots; the fourth and final team will be decided in the Regional qualifiers round 2. These qualifiers kick off on September 1 and will feature intense competition amongst the remaining teams.
T1 and DWG KIA will play for the LCK Split title next week, on August 28, to decide the 1st seed representative from the LCK. Fans can catch all the action live on Twitch.
Who do you have winning the 2021 LCK Summer Split? Will DWG KIA defend their Championship title or will T1 take back the throne?
Stay tuned to Esports.gg for the latest League of Legends news and highlights.