SK Telecom T1: The Underdogs at MSI
In previous years, SK Telecom T1 (SKT) was always considered the favorites at the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational. However, things have changed for the team, and they are no longer expected to dominate. Despite this, SKT has the potential to start a new era of Korean dominance if they win at MSI.
In 2018, SKT failed to qualify for Worlds, facing immense pressure as one of the top teams. Key players like Lee “Wolf” Jae-wan and Bae “Bang” Jun-sik were not performing at their best, and even superstar Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok struggled to meet expectations.
Changes were needed, and the team underwent a major roster overhaul. Only Faker remained, and new players were brought in for every position. The additions of Kim “Khan” Dong-ha, Kim “Clid” Tae-min, Park “Teddy” Jin-seong, and Cho “Mata” Se-hyeong turned SKT into the LCK Spring Split champions of 2019.
Although they are led by the greatest player of all time, SKT still has some flaws. They had a rocky start to the Spring Split, struggling to find their rhythm. However, they showed their true potential in the playoffs, dominating their opponents and winning the championship.
Now, at MSI, SKT has the chance to make history. But they need to be cautious, as the competition is fierce. Not only China, but also Europe, Taiwan, and North America have strong teams and players who are eager to perform on the big stage.
The favorites in the tournament are China’s Invictus Gaming (IG), who won the 2018 World Championships and the LPL Spring Season. IG’s Song “Rookie” Eui-jin poses a real challenge to Faker, as he is a skilled player with high impact. SKT cannot rely solely on Faker anymore; they must play as a cohesive unit.
SKT’s approach to the game has changed. While Faker is still a strong asset, he now plays around his team rather than being the primary playmaker. The team must minimize mistakes and rely on players like Khan and Faker to step up. SKT cannot afford to make any mistakes, as China has caught up with Korea and the Western teams are also becoming stronger.
The Mid-Season Invitational is an open field, and SKT has the opportunity to prove themselves in Vietnam and Taiwan. The competition in League of Legends has become more intense than ever, and SKT wants to show that they are still the best team in the world.
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