T1’s new roster debuted in the LCK Cup with a loss. However, fans quickly shared supportive messages and constructive criticism.
The 2025 League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK) Cup continued its action-packed second day on Jan. 16, featuring the much-anticipated debut of T1's new roster. The lineup — Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon, Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong, and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok, commonly abbreviated as DOFGK — faced off against DK in the second match of the day.
LoL esports fans, especially T1 and Doran fans, have been eager to watch this match since it would be the first match that features the five-time World champion team without their former top laner, Choi "Zeus" Woo-je, who shockingly departed to HLE in November 2024. However, the anticipated debut match must end with a loss for T1.
T1 lost against DK in the 2025 LCK Cup debut match
In the new 2025 LCK Cup format, T1 represented Group Baron, while DK competed for Group Elder. This matchup was particularly notable for its focus on the top lane, where T1's new recruit Doran and DK’s Jeon "Siwoo" Si-woo, another fresh face, went head-to-head. For Siwoo, this marked a milestone as his first Tier 1 tournament, having been promoted from the DK Challengers team — a journey similar to DRX's Trần "LazyFeel" Bảo Minh, the first non-Korean player in the LCK.
The best-of-three (Bo3) series kicked off with a dominant performance from DK. The first game ended decisively in under 24 minutes, with DK securing a 14-2 kill score and an overwhelming 10,000 gold lead.
However, T1 struck back in the second game, stretching it to over 31 minutes. They showcased a commanding performance with a 17-7 kill score and a 15,000 gold margin. T1 controlled most of the objectives, including four Drakes, one Atakhan, one Elder Dragon, and one Baron, conceding only one Rift Herald to DK.
The match-point game proved to be the most intense, lasting over 34 minutes. Despite T1’s efforts, DK closed out the series with an 18-9 kill score, securing the victory and earning a critical point for Group Elder. This win gave Group Elder a 3-1 lead over Group Baron in the 2025 LCK Cup group standings.
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T1 fans remain supportive despite an early setback
Although T1’s 2025 LCK Cup debut match ended in a loss, fans have been overwhelmingly supportive. Many fans also humorously embraced the team’s red jacket uniform by spamming tomato emojis in comments and live streams, turning the symbol into a lighthearted fan identity.
Social media platforms, especially X, were flooded with encouraging messages for the players, with over 204 comments as of the publication of this article. Fans emphasized that the tournament is still in its early stages, urging the team to learn from their mistakes and focus on improving team chemistry.
However, fans didn’t shy away from critiquing key moments in the series. Among the most discussed were Oner’s missed smites and Keria’s missed ultimates, both seen as avoidable errors that could have changed the outcome.
The champion selection also drew criticism, with fans suggesting that Oner avoid picking AP junglers and Gumayusi steer clear of immobile AD carries in future matches. Doran, the newest addition to the team, received mixed feedback. While fans acknowledged his potential, they pointed out his cautious playstyle and hesitance to make high-risk, high-reward moves, especially in light of his matchup against DK’s newly promoted Siwoo.
Despite the result, T1 fans remain optimistic, viewing the loss as a stepping stone rather than a setback. With plenty of matches left in the 2025 LCK Cup, they hope the team will adapt quickly, refine their strategies, and return stronger in the coming games.
T1 next match in the 2025 LCK Cup will be on Jan. 18 against DRX. Stay tuned on esports.gg for updates regarding the T1 DOFGK journey in 2025.
