Defending World Champions Struggle at Midseason Invitational
The defending world champions, SK Telecom T1, have hit a rough patch at the Midseason Invitational. After winning their first two games, they have now lost four in a row, putting their tournament hopes in jeopardy.
SK Telecom T1, winners of the most recent season of League of Legends in Korea, started the Midseason Invitational strong. Fans and analysts believed they were on track to win the tournament after their dominant performances.
However, things quickly turned around for SKT. They suffered their first loss against Royal Never Give Up and then went on to lose against Flash Wolves and Counter Logic Gaming. This losing streak is a cause for concern for the previously unbeatable team.
This is only the second time in SKT’s history that they have lost four games in a row. The losses are even more concerning because they come from teams outside of Korea, suggesting that other regions are catching up to the dominant Korean teams.
NA has a shot at worlds if Korea plays like this…
Counter Logic Gaming’s owner, HotshotGG, previously suggested that America could compete with the Korean teams. With SKT’s recent struggles, his statement may prove to be true. The current standings at the Midseason Invitational show Royal Never Give Up in the lead, followed by Counter Logic Gaming and Flash Wolves. SKT, despite their previous dominance, is now in fourth place.
The top four teams at the Midseason Invitational will secure one of the top four seeds at the 2016 World Championships. If SKT’s performance doesn’t improve, they could potentially lose their chance to defend their world championship title and negatively impact Korea’s position at the biggest event of the year.
Although SKT remains the favored team, their four consecutive losses prove that they are beatable. They are mortal and can be taken down. However, with their experience and skill, they still have a good chance of turning things around and coming out on top.
The tournament is now wide open, with no clear favorite. Any team, whether it’s from China, Taiwan, North America, or Korea, has a shot at winning the tournament, making it one of the most exciting events in recent memory.
Related keywords: SK Telecom T1, League of Legends, Midseason Invitational, Royal Never Give Up, Flash Wolves, Counter Logic Gaming, tournament, MSI, Korean teams, world champions, world championship