FAKER [EP. 2] : La Génération des Miracles.

Well. T1 lost. No third win in a row for them. The fact that they even came close is miraculous. But the difference in the collective level of the team got the better of them, of the best team of all time. And Faker cries. He cries so hard that the opposing team is almost embarrassed, and has to wait for him to pull himself together before shaking his hand. That’s it. The turning point in our history is here because for T1, it's the beginning of the void. In fact, even 2018, the year after the 2017 Worlds, was

probably the worst year in Faker's career and in T1's history. They haven't won any titles yet. At Summer 2018, they finished 7th in Korea and to top it all, they don't even qualify for the Worlds. And it's not as if they came close to qualifying as they did in 2014. This time, they went out in the first round of the qualifying tournament. By the way, guess who's taking them down in this first round? These guys. Samsung Galaxy roster moves to GEN.G, the same guys who prevented them from lifting the trophy in 2017. And Ruler is

there, so obviously once again... The year was a disaster. The roster changes a lot and some T1 players we know very well are not doing well at all. Wolf, for example, is one of the two members of the botlane duo. He would reveal much later in an interview that in 2018, he'd started having panic attacks. He could get under his desk, vomit, cry. And that went on for months. So he was put aside, of course, but this kind of situation isn't easy for anyone to handle. What League of Legends requires of young players aiming for

the top, is much more than a little talent. The pressure is colossal. T1 is a winning machine and not everyone can handle the load. And if you too find it hard to bear, we're moving away from it, a little, for a while... I told you I'd tell you about Faker. Now's the chance. After all, Faker's been around for a while. Five years already! And we're extending the period. We'll be talking about him outside the game until today. In short, since the Korean's timid debut, things have changed. Faker is already a man, no longer a teenager.

Above all, he made his transition in a very special environment. Because in Korea, Faker is someone famous. He does commercials for some of the world's biggest brands. He is a guest on television. In this program, to give you an idea, the guy to Faker's left is Kim Hee-chul, a KPop star who agreed to appear on the show only because he heard that Faker was taking part. Faker is a source of national pride. Every teenager and young adult knows it. Many idolize him. He has the same aura as the country's best-known footballer. He even did an

Xbox commercial with him. At this stage, his celebrity even made him part of the Korean cultural landscape. Apart from video games, he does ads for Korean ice cream and drinks. Everyone knows his name. A name that starts in the world of video games to be used like Mozart's or Messi's. This guy is the Faker of such-and-such game, his name becomes a synonym for greatness. He's the greatest player in League of Legends, the world's most developed and structured esports scene. Which means that Faker isn't just the biggest player in the game, he's the game's greatest player.

The GOAT of esports. In the eyes of the world already and in the eyes of other LoL players too and, above all, who idolizes him. In Korea, every newcomer wants to be Faker. Now you understand. And, of course, Faker is a millionaire. On League of Legends, if tournament winnings aren't as high as on other games like Dota and its tens of millions of dollars, on LoL, fortune is made when you join a team. Because salaries in some regions are absolutely staggering and for Faker even more so. In 2020, he turned down an offer of ten

million dollars a year. Some even talk of 20 million to leave South Korea and join a Chinese team. And a blank check to join an American team. To give you an idea of his value in the event of injury, his right hand is insured for over $800,000. In short, between salaries, advertising and partnerships, Faker has more than enough money. And yet... You only spend $200/months. I don't spend my money a lot. So how do you spend it? I save it. I'm asking you how you spend it! You don't understand how to spend your money? You

take $200 and put it back to the bank? How do you spend your money? Well, I do buy things... Like toothpaste or a toothbrush when I ran out of it. When you're a millionaire, to be asked what you spend your money on and reply toothpaste... That's how reasonable you are. By the way, for all pro players and aspiring pros. Let me take this opportunity to tell you… Being 20 years old, made me realise I was an adult, that I had a sense of duty. I tried to save my money as much as I could. At

the time, we all knew how little was a pro gamer career. So I did my best to get and save as much money as possible, to buy only what I needed as much as I could, to make sure I'll have a comfortable future. Well, in this case, he didn't have to deal with the whole brevity thing. But Faker is well aware of the risks of esports, so you should be as well. In short, when you see Faker speaks, he seems almost shy. To say the least, he's not making any waves. This becomes clear as you

watch him speak on the various programs he appears on, is that Faker, national pride and international celebrity, the multimillionaire prodigy whose face is regularly plastered on posters in the capital... Faker is just a regular guy, obviously. But above all, he acts like one. What's happening to him doesn't seem to be going to his head in the least. So some people say he's smooth, and I can understand that. Typical Korean modesty. All the same, his restraint and apparent normality do us good. There's something else that strikes you about Faker. I was telling you about the Chinese

and American offers he had received. He refused them. Faker started competing for T1 and at this stage he looks set to remain there until his retirement. Staying pro for so long on LoL is already abnormal. The fact that he hasn't changed teams once in his career, is the realm of the absurd. By the way, I'm talking about retirement but Faker seems to have been tied to his structure for much longer than that. In 2020, in conjunction with the extension of his player's contract, the Korean company becomes co-owner of SK Telecom T1. Initially without shares, but

later acquiring 5.66% of the company. Faker is T1 and T1 is Faker. By the way, you may be wondering how this guy stays on top of the game longer than some people's entire careers? Let me explain. In the game, Faker is a midlaner which is a central role in many ways. First, on the map, it is literally at the center of the map so he has access to all parts of the map and he can intervene wherever he sees fit. Toplane, botlane, jungle, he has to keep an eye on everything, exercising a control function. I've

been telling you all along that Faker is the best midlaner in the world, it really means that he's not just a mechanical player. He's also calculating and observant, which allows him to keep a constant eye on what's going on around him. Faker's excellence is not just innate. In the image of his country and as his father asked him to do, Faker is a worker. He's a guy who knows he's not perfect. He's eager to improve. And when he sees that he's fishing somewhere, he settles down, he tries to understand why, and he works. Once you

become number one, it's easy to get lazy. But that's not my case. Quite the opposite actually. I use my experience as number one to understand how to be back on top. That's how I manage to stay on top. What makes him special is that he's always adapting. He is constantly training new champions, which makes him capable of playing anything and everything. An adaptability that opens up the field of competition possibilities for his team. And that's something that's facilitated by his ability to learn. He started reading Korean at the same time he started to walk, and

he was known in the neighbourhood to be very curious, like the billbo for example. At the nursery, his teacher told him that he was a fast learner. Hence why he would need private lessons. He learnt Chinese and how to play the piano very fast his English was also pretty good. He was absolutely studious. Faker has always been a fast learner and a hard worker. The combo of excellence that has carried him through the years without ageing. In 2013, Faker is a mechanical prodigy, a genius, an artist. In 2014, the competition is catching up and starting

to imitate him. So, in 2015 Faker takes advantage of his rivalry with Easyhoon to learn. He understands that being mechanical isn't enough. And he is well aware of his teammate's success caused almost entirely by his computing capabilities. In 2016, Faker expanded his palette, training his champions. He thinks about the collective, and this is a trend that is still valid today. The more time passes, the more Faker lets his flamboyance go and focuses on increasingly pure efficiency in the service of the collective. That's the key to success. An immense talent in the hands of a hard

worker, in a structure that pushes him to excellence. By the way, I'm talking about this trend, which is still valid today, because yes, in 2024, when this video comes out, Faker is still there, but we're not there yet. We left off in 2018 and I'll quickly summarize what happened in the following two years. It's going well, but nothing more. In 2019 and 2020, the team is restructuring. They try out different things, different combinations of players and styles. They win a few titles at home, but continue to suffer internationally. In 2019, for example, T1 was knocked

out of the Worlds by G2, a European team. The first time in its history that it has lost a BO5 to a non-Asian team. Even in Korea, new prodigies are emerging. Chovy, for example, or Showmaker, players who arrived using Faker as an example and whose talent may even surpass that of our protagonist. In short, in 2020, the team isn't bad, far from it. But it's not what it used to be. And in everyone's minds, a question slowly, timidly begins to rise. What if, for Faker, this was the beginning of the end? And then 2021 begins.

And T1 wonders. The ultimate goal, the Grail, T1's raison d'être, is the Worlds. Whose victory alone legitimizes the existence of a structure which has become the identity of our Korean team over the years. So how do we go about it? What's the plan to win the Worlds again that seemed so accessible back then and that we now understand the full extent of the difficulty? Recruiting people who succeed elsewhere is all well and good, but T1 has another card to play. It has at its disposal a phenomenal reserve of potential... Its academic teams. In which 10

or so little monsters from all 4 corners of the country are recruited. Still young, so malleable and teachable. Teach the T1 style and, above all, that you can try out different combinations. Wouldn't that be nice? A pure-bred T1 team. That's not exactly what's going to happen, but that's the goal. A goal that, little by little over the months, will bring about the arrival of what we'll simply call : the generation of miracles. Players who will one by one integrate T1 to make the structure something different. From the old team, nobody stays. Even kkOma has left,

replaced as coach by Bengi, Faker's former teammate. Which is, once again, the only survivor. Okay, Faker, that's one. Who is now waiting for just one thing, surrounded by young monsters who have managed to become number 1 at T1. By combining their phenomenal talent with an extraordinary capacity for work and who among dozens of candidates have managed to climb to the very top of the greatest team of all time. The first to arrive in the botlane is Gumayusi. His story at T1 actually begins in 2020. Gumayusi is part of the Korean structure's academic team which will

take part in the Worlds 2020 qualifying tournament. A small problem in the botlane, as T1 starter Teddy isn't in great shape and the structure will look to its academic team to replace him. In this case, Gumayusi, who will have the chance to play in this tournament. So the thing is, it's not going particularly well. The team does not qualify for the 2020 Worlds. That said, Guma played well and you have to wonder what's going to happen when Teddy comes back. So Guma waits. And then, in the middle of the season, the management announced that Teddy

will take over his position with an extended contract. It was a real surprise, almost a betrayal. As if T1 told me: "We picked Teddy but not you." So Gumayusi thought for a while about roleswapping. He already plays botlane and is planning to play toplane. He wants to try things that will help him break through. Some people close to him even advise him to leave T1. He's talented and his reputation precedes him. Other teams are interested and Guma has the opportunity to shine elsewhere. Except that Gumayusi, you may not know him very well, but he's got

a hard head. Moreover, his father was involved in the decision. So Gumayusi does what he does best. He's stubborn. That's his thing, you'll see. In a program on the Doublelift channel, T1 CEO Joe Marsh tells it like it is: I think you're beginning to understand who Guma is. And, of course, on January 13, 2021, Gumayusi officially becomes a member of T1's main roster. Only three more to go. Joining Guma in the botlane as a support is Keria. Keria is the only one of the four newcomers not to come from the T1 academic team. In 2020,

he's already playing professionally. And he's doing very well. He is a member of DRX alongside Chovy, I mentioned earlier. It's a successful team in 2020. Second at Summer, quarter-finalist at Worlds. Very good. The thing is, after the season, structures are snapping up members of this DRX team. There's a lot of talent out there, and Keria is one of them. As a support, he's already one of the best on the planet. And T1 wants him... And the feeling's mutual. I really wanted to play for T1 once in my career. And it happened sooner than expected. So

that makes our first pair Keria and Gumayusi, who understand each other immediately. We're both aggressive and we're good at seizing opportunities for a kill. If one of us doesn't feel it, we tell each other straight away. We discut a lot about our game phases and how to play them. And beyond that, the two stick together. Just listen. Gumayusi is always confident. He has that mindset, "I will win no matter what." "What I do is great." Exactly. But before today's match... "I'm shaking, could you hug me?" That was cute! Well, that’s great... Keria is here. Only

two more to go. In the jungle, it was another player from the T1 academic teams who came out on top. Oner. When the 2021 season begins, he is called in to reinforce T1's main roster. The trouble is, there are already two other junglers in place. Cuzz and Ellim. By now you're familiar with the principle, the three will take it in turns to have more choice but above all to determine who will be the best at this position within the roster. As usual, the management is looking for the winning combo and in 2021, of the three

junglers, Oner is only number 3. Spring 2021, he plays 4 games, Cuzz plays 6 and Ellim plays 8. So the hierarchy is respected. But during the Summer, Ellim was benched. It's between Cuzz and Oner. At Summer 2021, it's the latter's statistics that take precedence. He has 62% of wins against 52%, the same K/DA with 3.8 and more kill participation with 70% versus 66%. And that's not all. This is where we get into things that are more complicated to explain. We're getting away from the numbers but it feels like things are going better with Oner. There

seems to be a chemical reaction between the Korean and the rest of the roster. Oner, on top of that, doesn't just bring back T1's level of play. It would seem that marketing is working for him too. Oner, done. Just one more. The last one on the toplane is the youngest member of the team. Zeus. To tell you the truth, you have to be 17 to play in the LCK and when Zeus played his first match, he was 17 years and 3 days old. He could hardly have come earlier. Zeus, too, was trained on the T1

academic team. The difference with the others is that they wanted him straight away. He joined the team before he could play in the LCK. His first Spring Split match contains a phenomenal early game with superb 1V2 action and finishing the game in 3/0/8... No fatalities, then. For his first segment at T1, he played 19 games with 12 wins and 7 losses, so a nice ratio. In 2021, he is still not the main player in his position. Canna takes care of it and Zeus has no games to get his teeth into at Summer 2021 or at

the Worlds. That said, things are about to change. We'll see later. Zeus, beyond his talent, is also visibly at ease in the team. In Korea, there's a real hierarchy based on age. When a guy is a year older than you, you're supposed to behave more respectfully than a guy your own age. And Zeus is younger than everyone else, especially compared to Faker, who's almost like a grandfather next door. And Zeus doesn't seem all that interested in this hierarchy business. I did an interview with Oner who told me something important. "The 2004 kid is terrifying." Give

me an example! He's like... - "Dude, bring me water!" - To whom? To me, he does it a lot! And I interviewed Faker recently, and I quote: "Youngsters have no respect for the elders anymore." So we get along. Is it true? Yes, Faker did say it to my face... And Oner, he's really easy going. So you forget to be polite with him, and you end up just messing with him! It became a habit. Oner isn't an elder to me but a friend. I'd like to take this opportunity to add something because I realize that I've

hardly emphasized it, that these four players are extremely strong. You'll soon find out anyway. They are all very talented, among the best in the country from the moment they arrive. They have been carefully selected by T1 and were mostly trained at T1. And then there's Faker. Obviously, his role is gradually changing. He definitely comes out of his shell to become a true leader. He is clearly older than his teammates. He knows what it's like to have a lot of talent. He also knows that it's not always enough to win. So he set to work. He's

definitely stepping into his role, taking on more and more responsibility. Well, I think that's it. We have our 5 players, our generation of miracles. And it's nice to see that they get along so well. But the big question is whether T1's gamble works. Can a team trained at home on the T1 system for years can compete with the rest of the country? So 2022 begins with the LCK Spring Split. The regular season begins and our roster has 18 games to play and all we're waiting for is to see if the team works. So they play

their first matches... And it's not that the team works. It's just that this T1 roster is destroying South Korea. 18 wins and 0 losses. I don't know what else to tell you, it's the first time this has happened in the history of the LCK, and even then, T1 was considered the best team in the world. Frankly, a notch above the rest, when I spoke of generation of miracles, I wasn't lying. Gumayusi has been showered with praise - we didn't expect him to be so strong. Zeus is considered one of the best toplane in the world.

Perhaps even the best. And this for a guy who explained that for his first games in the LCK, he was trembling with stress. The youngster's doing well. And especially Keria. Keria is without a doubt the best support in the world at the start of 2022. There's no question about it, everyone says so. He's at the top of all the rankings in his role and he also has the honor of being elected LCK MVP at Spring 2022. This hardly ever happens for a support which is generally a more background role. Finally, for once, the least talked

about. Well, it's Faker. And you know what, that's really good. It proves that the team works. Long gone are the days when his teammates relied on him to fill in the gaps. At T1, everyone counts on everyone. It's at this point that we start to see this “meme” of Faker surrounded by his students. Small ones at first, which eventually overtake him. And if it makes some of us sad to see Faker no longer the team's prodigy. It warms my heart. Firstly, because at 27, he couldn't have dreamed of a better situation. Secondly, because the image

really speaks for itself. Now it's more than a team... It's a family. Music. Give me penta! Sorry! Penta, what?! Too bad. - Overkill! - Sorry, I didn't see, it's just... Sorry! I accidentally closed the game! Well done! A family which, after its historic 18-0 regular-season score, is now a family of its own, goes into the playoffs and reaches the grand final against Gen.G and T1 does T1. Korean champion. For T1, it's nothing new, but for this roster, it's the first time. And it's special. For Keria in particular, despite his status, this victory is worthy of

tears. Because no matter how monstrous he was, he'd never won. I really tried to hold back my tears. I wanted nice pictures of the ceremony. So I tried as much as I could. I wanted to look cool... And while I was talking on stage, I experienced everything that I went through to be there again. It happened really fast. Too emotional. And he's not the only one when he receives the MVP award, Oner has a bit of a trouble too. In fact, he's just been awarded the MVP, he simply congratulates his teammates. It's the solidarity he's

always shown. What if you wanted another reason to get attached to him, in addition to his supermodel photos, you're served by his humility. For Gumayusi, true to form, this creates very different emotions. Yes, I'm happy that I won LCK but... It was only the Spring Split. The first step. There are still many tournaments to play, and I want to win them all. There you go, Guma! For Faker, it's nothing more than a 10th victory in the LCK. We imagine his emotions to be a little less strong. Having said that, everyone can feel it, it's good,

there's something going on. Talent aside, this team is special and it's hard not to get attached. The next big event is the MSI in South Korea. And it's perfect timing. But despite expectations, T1 settled for 2nd place, forced to lose 2-3 to Chinese team RNG playing from a distance, blocked in China by Covid. It's a bit of a disappointment, of course, but Faker, who hasn't won an international tournament for the past 4 years, is clearly taking it well. He explains that this defeat allowed him to understand what he was missing and to prepare alongside his

teammates for the Summer Split and the Worlds. The first goes very well, but T1 is again lacking 1st place, and this time the defeat was more severe. Korea has set up a new super team, Gen.G, which ended the regular season on 17-1, almost equalling the record set a few months earlier by T1 at the same place. And when the two teams meet at the summit of the tournament in the playoff final, Gen.G wins with a harsh 3-0. By the way, I'll say a few words about it here, because we'll come back to it later. But

the MVP of this summer LCK is Ruler. Remember the guy who helped defeat T1 in 2017? With a timed flash-in on Faker? Well, he's still there and at Gen.G, he is very well surrounded and that’s clearly enough to topple a monstrous T1 team. OK, over the first 3 tournaments of the year, that makes us one 1st place and two 2nd places, that's still great. Our 5 players don't necessarily have the momentum. Nevertheless, at the Worlds, the most important tournament of the year and by far with their level, the trophy is clearly up for grabs. Well,

I say that, but not everyone feels that way. Some have reservations about a few players in particular. We're afraid of the inexperience of Zeus, who is still very young. Oner in the jungle is starting to be criticized and Gumayusi also receives his share of remarks. Some of them quite creatively, despite their malevolence, it has to be said. They went so far as to rent advertising trucks to tell him that, apart from Xayah, he was bad with all his champions. Can you imagine what's expected of them? That's after a 1st place finish and two 2nd places,

hard to beat. And yet, at T1, nothing beats a trophy. In the end, it's just club legend Faker and Keria the world's best support, which are spared the criticism. Imagine what it takes to be appreciated. If you're not the best, you're not good enough. That's the standard for many T1 fans. Except that these 5 guys are a generation of miracles. And if I've presented them to you as such, it's because this is just the beginning. Because the 2022 Worlds are approaching and that all the tournaments of the past are no longer of the slightest importance.

T1 didn't form this roster for 1st place at the MSI but for victory at the Worlds. The final test is here. For our 5 guys, it's make-or-break time. The Worlds 2022 will be held in the United States and in the same way that it was almost touching to see Faker discover the Worlds in 2013, it's now almost touching to see his teammates discover them. You can feel the pressure. This is serious. T1s are not favorites. Basically, at the Worlds, there are two big teams for which victory seems credible. And surprisingly, T1 is not one of

them. In the rankings, we sometimes find them 3rd, sometimes 7th. Don't ask me why, I imagine their defeat against Gen.G at Summer 2022 made its mark. In fact, the 1st of the two favorite teams is Gen.G, a Korean team. And the second is JDG, a Chinese team. If you hadn't noticed that Asia was on top on LoL, now's the time. And if you're wondering why, you don't have to look far, the answer is in the room. Faker starts his Worlds 2022 almost perfectly, surrounded by his 4 soldiers. They finish in 5-1 in group stage with

a double victory over EDG, the 2021 Worlds champions. The playoff quarter-finals are equally dazzling. T1 crushes RNG 3-0, the Chinese team that beat them at MSI 2022 which forced them to settle for 2nd place. The semi-final is extremely tense. T1 takes on JDG, one of the 2 favorite teams from China, Korea's new rival. And that's when the tournament really begins. Go on Lulu. They're late on the follow-up! It's not good, we have to leave. I might die here. It's not good. They had to follow-up but... They're not reactive enough! We almost did it. They celebrate

too fast. We weren't up to scratch True. We were too nervous. So was I. Good luck. I think we can contest. I'm dead. It's not good. He wants to go on us! Focus Malphite first target! Back off. We can still push! Can you cover me? I don't have anything left. Aphelios! Bel'Veth! Aphe, Aphe, Aphe! Focus him. No need to kill! I want to kill him! They're cheering for you. And the game 3 against JDG starts now! What is that? They can't get in the game. That was great, guys. So good. Nice, good job guys! Well

played, boys. T1 are one game ahead! They were nervous. Let's stay calm and make the most of the opportunities. Let's focus a little more. I can soon ult. Again! Let's push! Let's go! Let's keep pushing! T1 completely eliminates JDG! JDG are down! Can you feel the prophecy coming true? And you're beginning to understand why I was talking about the generation of miracles. There's something going on, I can't tell you. That was the semi-final. All that remains now is the grand finale of the Worlds 2022. A final that caused a stir for many reasons. T1 in

the final was already unexpected. It was hoped, perhaps, but nothing more. Above all, their opponents, who are neither of the two favorite teams at these Worlds. JDG were defeated by T1 and Gen.G by... DRX. If you don't know who DRX are, no problem. No one expected them to be there. And in the Worlds 2022 rankings DRX weren't even in the top 10. It's a small Korean seed 4 team from the LCK who happen to be there almost by chance. It's a strange anomaly. What's even stranger is one of the members of this small team... Deft.

To cut a long story short, he's a Korean player the same age as Faker, actually more than that Deft went to high school with Faker. That's what you see in the Worlds 2023 anthem that was released after the grand finale. And that's what all the promotion for this grand finale revolves around. The fact that 2 of the most important players of the year at the top of the World's most prestigious e-sports competition went to high school together 10 years ago. And I have to admit, it's a beautiful thing. But in reality, it's a little less

glorious. The 2 had never spoken. And in high school, Faker didn't even know Deft existed. The latter, on the other hand, was perfectly aware of the existence of the 1st, because even back then, Faker was the number 1 on the Korean SoloQ ladder. His reputation preceded him even then. 10 years later, things haven't changed - in fact, the chasm has widened. Deft is a pro player. Where Faker is the greatest pro gamer in the history of video games. It may be hard to swallow. By the way, Deft not only has a history with Faker... but

also with Keria. Since T1 support comes from DRX, it was his team just before joining T1. And even more than that. He comes from their academic team. He trained there and alongside Deft, very literally, since Keria is support and Deft is ADC. They even played the Worlds together in 2020, reaching the quarter-finals. The thing is, when Keria was still with DRX, he had promised Deft to help him lift the trophy. Except that he's moved on to T1. And in 2022, Deft remembers it well. Quote: "Keria promised me, one day, to help me win the Worlds".

"It's time for him to keep his promise.” On November 5, 2022, there's something very special in the air. Whoever wins, the story will be magnificent. For DRX because they don't belong there. They are only the Korean seed 4. Their victory over Gen.G was already miraculous. The one against T1 would be absolutely legendary. And Deft would come to take a revenge that had been ten years in the making. For T1 because it would be the return of the king, the return of kings even, that of a player and a structure that, since their arrival, have only

known and for five years, almost only victory which in recent years seem to have lost their lustre and see their DNA unravel in the face of the ravages of time. Yet Zeus, Oner, Keria and Gumayusi are something very special. New blood in an old champion's body that have to give back to the team they represent, that they embody even its place at the top of the world. It's my first final. I've dreamt so many times to finally be on this stage. Deft, I'm sorry. I need to win. Well, DRX wins. And while I'm sad for

T1, it was well deserved for DRX who won 3-2 but came very close to 3-1. In game 5, the decisive game, T1 was tense. Some decisions were questionable, especially the desperate call at the end which proposed destroying the opponent's base and leaving the Elder Drake to fend for itself. T1's mistake, especially when you take a step back, was that the team wasn't out to win. They especially wanted to avoid losing, where DRX on their side, almost intoxicated by the momentum, gained from miraculous victories in the run-up to the final. The objective was clearly victory. Therein

lies the difference. Perhaps that makes it even more painful. In these photos, you see Zeus weeping. Here, it's Keria who completely collapses. He already made a big mistake in the decisive game and he realized it immediately. This final, today's game, it made me question my whole life. You may think he's going a bit too far, but for Keria, imagine being beaten by the team he left two years earlier and promised to help lift the Worlds trophy. And the trophy was lifted without Keria. There must be a lot of emotions running around and we understand the

crying. And we understand the faces of the opponents when they come to greet Keria. Perhaps an even more striking reaction than Keria's, though, Faker's. We remember his tears in 2017. This is completely different. His first reaction is to look around. To check on his teammates. And then there's this photo too. Faker knows exactly what Keria is going through. Because five years earlier, when he was the same age as him a mechanical prodigy himself, the same thing happened to him. It's hard, but Faker holds on. At the press conference, despite the blow, he was more than

up to the task. We're playing the final because all the players worked very hard all year long. I want to say to all my teammates, from the bottom of my heart, that I'm so proud that they worked so hard. it's true, we're 2nd. But we learnt a lot from this loss. A question for Faker: During your last final, in 2017, you burst in tears when you lost. This time, you're much calmer. What changed? In 2017, I was disappointed of the result. We weren't up to scratch in so many things, and we lost to Samsung Galaxy.

I guess that is why I was so sad. This year, the team worked so hard. Everyone trained so much, especially Zeus. Zeus worked very hard. Thinking back at it, there's no reason to be sad. It's true we ended up being 2nd, but I have faith that we'll improve a lot as a team. That's why I didn't cry. In many ways, Faker is already holding his own. Next, you'll notice that he talked about how hard Zeus worked. That's no coincidence. Zeus completely missed his final and was dominated by his direct opponent Kingen, who was voted MVP

of the final. And Faker knows exactly what's coming. Zeus is already going to blame himself and now the fans are going to blame him. Then Faker takes the lead. He already reassures his still very young teammate, who has just completed his first full year at the highest level who has just competed in his first Worlds. Secondly, he calms the ardor of his detractors in advance. Zeus has been hard at work. Dear T1 fan, that's all you need to remember. See how much our Faker has grown since his first embarrassed interviews? He remains stoic despite the

fact that, in this T1 roster, he's the one who, because of his age, has the least chance of lifting another trophy. In short, a real leader for a real team. What will become of this team anyway? Generation of miracle or not, a loss is a loss. Let's take a look back at the year that just ended. Out of four tournaments, T1 made it to 4 finals. The ratio is excellent. Out of these four finals, they took one victory. The ratio is less brilliant. And this victory is one of the least worthwhile because it's just a

home win, especially as it was at the very beginning of the year. So it's getting old. Well. It's hard to know what to do. However, what weighs heavily in the balance, is that everyone loves this T1 team. If their victories make them popular, their defeats make them touching. You quickly become attached to these five players. This is my case. It's hard not to like them and I suspect you're starting to feel the pinch too. And you're not alone. At the end of 2022, T1 decides to re-sign Zeus, Oner, Gumayusi and Keria. As for Faker, he's

making himself a bit scarce. He receives big offers, notably from Liquid and FlyQuest. North American teams offering handsome salaries to Koreans. International structures increasingly understand that their only chance to win the Worlds is to recruit from outside the company, and in particular of course in Korea, with the aim of setting up an all-Korean roster. So Faker at Liquid doesn't seem absurd. Except you're getting to know Faker. The surest way for him to win a fourth Worlds trophy, is probably by staying at T1. And anyway, beyond Faker's calculations, it's T1. Of course he stays. If you

don't know LoL, it may not surprise you that the 5 players stay together, but the game scene is anything but stable. The DRX roster, for example, has just won the Worlds and yet by early 2023, everyone has left. There’s one player left. Whereas at T1 everyone stays, even the coaching staff. And in the air, above the attachment to the players and the excitement of the coming season, we smell something else, a last-chance perfume. Because the same roster two years in a row is rare enough, but three times without a win is absolutely unthinkable. T1 must

succeed in 2023, otherwise it's the end of the team as we know it. Okay, so 2023 is the 10th and final year of our history. In terms of Worlds ranking estimates, DRX disappears, since the roster has been disbanded. T1 joins the top 3 and at the top there are two other teams who are in fact the same as in 2022. The first is Gen.G, who is losing a player, and not just any player... Ruler. You're getting to know him, the flash-in, the counter, all that. Except that since 2017, Ruler is not the young player he

used to be. He wasn't even in the Top 20 at the time. Whereas in 2022 Ruler is probably the best botlaner in the world. He gets lots of accolades, and by the end of the year, everyone wants him. And the team that manages to get him to come and stay with them is no more and no less than the other favorite team of 2023. JDG. A new Chinese superteam. JDG at the end of 2022, were already monstrous. But in early 2023, they get Ruler, the world's best botlaner and Knight, the best Chinese midlaner in history.

Their roster is terrifying and in the eyes of analysts, despite T1's second-place finish at the Worlds and their unchanging roster, it's JDG who seem to be on top. No team is serene at the thought of facing them. The good news is that T1 won't have to get involved just yet. JDG plays in the LPL, the Chinese equivalent of the LCK. So no confrontation for a few months. Ok, so for T1, beginning of the year back in South Korea. With the 2022 final already in the bag, all they have to do is get back to work.

There's a long way to go, but they can use the time to improve on last year's shortcomings. The first step for T1 is the LCK Spring and things could hardly be better. Well, I think our guys are in good shape. The players' confidence is at an all-time high. They've only lost one game all season. They have a 13-game winstreak. The roster knows each other by heart, the players are friends, life is good. What's that noise? Is that a birthday party? You're not eating? You scared me... Are you all here? You've got the best seat. Here's

a gift from the airport for you. Thanks. You're far! Oner jumped higher! I didn't give my all. The result was obvious. It was obvious. In fact, Keria may not look like it, but he continues to cement his position as the best support in the world, if not in history. He’s great, honestly because more than being excellent, he continues to do things differently. He can play absolutely anything in his role, all the champions he likes, so much so that it seems to be redefining the lane's meta. When an average pro gamer does something unusual, we tend

to think he's just messing around. When Keria does something unusual, the pros' first reaction is to understand why he does things the way he does. And to reproduce the results on their own. Keria is well aware of his level and he's not afraid to refer to himself as the MVP of the LCK. And that's completely in keeping with what T1 is giving off at the time. They are all-powerful, absolutely confident. You can feel it in the coms, in the interviews. They're monstrous and they know it. Upper-semi playoffs in spring 2023, they're getting a bit hung

up on KT Rolster. But even there, T1 are not worried at all. In an interview with Faker, he explains that if they've had a hard time, it's because they've made some unusual mistakes. Please understand the translation. Their greatest adversary is themselves. Maybe not, because in the playoffs' grand finale, they lose to Gen.G and it wasn't even particularly close. Gen.G wins by two games. You can feel it coming. Because after his match against KT in upper-semi, Gumayusi explained it very well: He was too chill. That was not a good sign. This was later confirmed by their

defeat against Gen.G, T1 are overconfident. We feel like we're back in 2022 and that's not good at all. Then they realize it. In conference after the grand finale Gumayusi is a little less chill. He is, and I quote: "Confused, sorry for disappointing the fans and has a lot going on in his head. He promises, however, to take his revenge at the MSI a few weeks later". And he's not the only one with a sincere desire. In an interview, Faker explains that he hasn't forgotten the defeat at the MSI 2022 and desperately wants to win. Yeah,

but if they make it to the semi-finals in 2023. What's going on? T1 has been making semi-finals and finals since 2022. They go from semi-final to final, they always seem to be among the best teams in the world and yet they're unable to reach a conclusion. What's the big deal? Well, already at MSI they were up against JDG. And the bad news is, they're just as strong as expected, maybe even more, but it seems to go further for T1 and fans have their explanations, of course. Zeus is overrated, Oner is too passive, Faker is no

longer decisive enough, Gumayusi is low, Keria is not able to impact the game enough as a support. Everyone gets a kick out of it. In the eyes of T1's detractors, nobody is up to scratch. Once again, I repeat, for top 1s and 3s. It's hard. That said, we do have some more concrete answers. Zeus, the youngest, explains at the post-MSI press conference that T1 failed to read the tournament's meta game. Bengi, the coach acknowledges bad drafts, so poor champion choices at the start of games, his role. By the way, Bengi also gets a kick out

of it. Because he's starting to accumulate bad drafts. He was already criticized for this in 2022 against DRX and it's starting to annoy people. The only thing our guys can do is work hard and reassure fans that they'll do better at Summer Spit, the penultimate stage of the year. So the regular season starts in June 2023 and things aren't going too badly for T1. As the season progresses, we approach the halfway point and the team has 6 games won against 2 lost. So it's not too bad. And then T1 releases this press release. Which basically

announces that Faker will be taking a break. His right arm and hand, the one insured for more than $800,000 makes him suffer. So from the looks of it, nothing serious. The x-rays don't show anything, but he'll need to rest. That means T1 which, if their defeat every time they reach the grand final is anything to go by, have a little mental problem... T1 will have to play without a leader. To replace him, the coaches bring in Poby, a young player from the T1 academic team, for an indefinite period. Poby is good, he was trained at

home. The thing is, he comes at the worst possible time for a sub. T1 is running out of steam and needs to replace his team leader who also happens to be the greatest player in the history of his structure, of his country and of the game as a whole. A guy who's usually counted on to turn things around. And I wish I could tell you that things are going well and Poby is doing better than expected. But the truth is, it's a disaster. Out of 18 games played, T1 with Poby lost 14, that's a 78%

loss with the sub. And worst of all, it's not just Poby, who either doesn't play at Faker's level or is surrounded by players that don't look alike. Zeus, Oner, Keria and Guma, we don't really know what they do but it's far from good. And that's where Faker's immense impact comes in. Both on and off the pitch, his absence changes everything. His players lack a leader and are losing confidence and worse, they build up immense pressure because they want to prove to the world that they're more than just Faker's kids. Except that they don't prove much.

The pressure is too great. In a press conference, as the defeats pile up and some incumbents sometimes receive no questions at all, we keep asking how Faker's doing and when he'll be back. A further symbol is Bengi, Faker's former right-hand man in the field and T1 coach announced his resignation on July 7. He no longer feels up to the task. He sees the team sinking without being able to find a solution. For a month, it's a catastrophe, I have no other word for it. Each new press conference adds insult to injury. All we're waiting for,

almost desperately, is the return of Faker. Until August 2, 2023. T1 press release, Poby on the bench, Faker back. Ok. The thing is, we don't know how far he's recovered, wouldn't Faker come back too soon? Does he force himself? Does he put pain and risk aside to ensure his team's survival? Maybe. But T1 is now moving on to a painful Summer Split and that, wounded or not, is probably unbearable for him. Then Faker comes back and plays his first match against a rather weak team. Still, he crushes them. Well, that's excellent. At the press conference

immediately afterwards, T1's new head coach Tom explains what happened with the team. I think the players unconsciously felt a lot of pressure when going on stage. Once Faker was back, the atmosphere changed and the good mood came back. Today, while watching the game, I noticed that the players were more proactive in their shotcalling. It's a positive change. Faker, on the other hand, clarifies his situation. I've been in rehabilitation for a month. I've not recovered completely, but my wrist is much better. But I think that I will need time to readjust to my new posture. I'm

not in pain while I play. But I'm still careful. It's the biggest change I have to get used to. For instance, I try to hold my mouse differently. Further on, we find the Faker we know. He knows what Poby has been through and doesn't hesitate to reassure him. Now that's a comeback. A 2-0 victory and an impeccable press conference... In addition, for the final match of the regular season, a 2-1 win over Liiv Sandbox. This confirms T1's mid-table position, in 5th position, giving them the top-6 finish they need to reach the playoffs. It's not ideal,

it'll never be as good as first and second place which ensures a less complex tournament, still keeps them alive. By the way, numbers 1 and 2 in the table are GEN.G and KT Rolster. KT Rolster, to whom the tournament gives the choice of their opponents between two teams. They choose T1. Probably because on paper, they're fifth. Still, it's amazing and the match was beautiful. Honestly. But T1 wins. What got into you, KT? Didn't you follow anything? Didn't we warn you about Faker? T1 finally reaches the grand final, where, unsurprisingly, they face GEN.G. Unsurprisingly, they lost.

But that's no big deal for fans. Firstly, because GEN.G are in monumental form. Secondly, T1 is still recovering. And to reach the LCK grand final after a period of 78% defeat, is more than enough. The guys did their job. All the more so as the Worlds are approaching and T1 have qualified and in the end, once again, that's all that matters. In fact, we're off to the Worlds, almost backwards on my side because it's the final stage in our story. And potentially, even more dramatically, probably also the last stage in the story of our 5

guys at T1, who, almost prophetically, are taking part in the 2023 Worlds in South Korea. The Worlds in South Korea had already happened a few years earlier. The thing was, it had come at the worst possible time. The first time was in 2014 and T1 just missed out on the Worlds by one match. The second time was in 2018, when T1 once again missed out on the Worlds by a wide margin. The thing is, Faker is already old, in esport at 27, you're a dinosaur. And Faker or not, the chances of participating in other Worlds

diminish with the years. The Worlds would then take place in South Korea, it's his last chance, just one more. It's starting to pile up and you can imagine the pressure. But pressure or not, the group phase begins. Before the first match of the Worlds, I wasn't feeling nervous, just... "Let's do it", that's all I was thinking about. We're in quarters final, so we're back in Busan. The loss in MSI last year still hurts. This time, we want to make good memories. Ok. T1 exits group stage 3-1. Against each team, there was a little story. Against

Liquid they beat, we found Pyosik, winner of the Worlds in 2022 having knocked out T1. Nice revenge. In fact, Liquid was one of the teams that sought to recruit Faker at the end of 2022. Against Cloud9, whom they beat, the game was fast-paced. It was real destruction with a phenomenal level of Oner who has been taking criticism for some time and is beginning to silence it. Against BLG, whom they beat, they bring down their first Chinese team of the tournament in a tense context of Asian rivalry. Against GEN.G at last, against whom they lost yet

again for the third time this year, at an important time. T1 still qualifies, which takes us into the final phase of the Worlds 2023, playoffs. And there are no second chances, no room for error. Losing a match means losing the tournament. And T1 are focused because they know they're not just fighting for the trophy, but also for the survival of their roster. Then they focus. No more blind trust. They focus on what they've done wrong after losing to GEN.G, for example. We started strong in the early game, but we ended up hesitating a lot at

crucial times. We didn't engage like we had to, especially when we had advantage. We underestimated the importance of objectives, which made us do big strategic mistakes, and on the side of the team, we did direction and macro mistakes. Hence why, even if we were ahead, we still ended up losing. Can you feel what's happening? T1 seems to have become more humble. At the beginning of the year, remember, when the team was 17-1, everyone was brimming with confidence. It seemed obvious that the players knew they were going to win. And yet they lost the Spring LCK

final. They lost the MSI semi-final and the Summer LCK final. Their level was not enough. They, who seem, despite their talent and despite their rigor, unable to take first place, whatever the tournament, whoever the opponent, their excellence clearly stopped on the penultimate step. What remains to be seen is the cause. And if that turns out to be their complacency, then maybe their new-found modesty will do them some good. We'll see. Well, apart from Guma, of course, who heard what an LNG player had to say. What's certain is that T1 is on the way. The team

they'll be facing in the quarter-finals, this is the very team Guma wants to silence. LNG. Maybe it's time to tell you what's going on... at the 2023 Worlds. I mentioned that they were held in South Korea. The thing is, for the past few years, South Korea's domination of LoL is gradually being challenged by the birth of a competitor. Geographically right next door and methodologically even closer, China, which has a lot of money, a lot of talent and a lot of rigor. In the quarter-finals, out of eight teams, There's one American team, three Korean teams and

four Chinese teams. The thing is, T1 is playing LNG, one of those Chinese teams in last place and in the three previous quarter-finals, all three winners were Chinese teams. And T1 is South Korea's last line of defence by taking on a fourth Chinese team on home soil who, should they win, would take the last available place in the semi-finals. Can you imagine the humiliation? With three teams already out of four, it's painful for Korea, but four out of four would be too much. I told you that the pressure was increasing. Here's more. So here's T1,

on November 5, 2023 in Busan, in the Sajik Indoor Gymnasium, against LNG, in the only Worlds quarter-final with a full venue. In front of a crowd of over 14,000 spectators, the majority of whom were obviously Koreans, to support Korean teams who are being eliminated one after the other. And who find themselves cheering, almost in despair, their last remaining team. On paper, probably not their best. Except that their best GEN.G was eliminated earlier... By a Chinese team. One more. That's the load our players have on their shoulders. It remains to be seen whether they'll be able

to handle it. If the LCK gets defeated like that, it will just be a civil war between Chinese teams. When we were the last ones standing, I saw it as an opportunity. We'll do our best to make Korea proud. The opponents play fast, ajust to their speed. Play accordingly. Unlucky. It's fine. Faker, your Orianna was crazy. You carried. - He doesn't have flash. - We can end if we push mid. - Take Maokai and let's go mid. - I TP mid. - TP mid. - I TP mid. Someone can go mid? I go in. Well

played. I have him. Well played! We have a big lead. Nice. I missed it, it's okay. I don't have any spell. We can't go. It's fine. Turrets! I'm going to ult, go forward! - Get the first turret! - Take the turret! Well played! This is what T1, this is what the LCK needed to unlock the top LPL team. After today's victory, Faker maintains his record of invicibility against the LPL during Worlds. I'm curious to see what you've been thinking. I understand the record is something big, but I don't focus on these kind of things. What

matters the most, is that we prepared diligently. As his teammate, did you know about this record? T1 doesn't lose to LPL. After this victory in quarters, we'll keep on training to make the fans happy for the upcoming matches. We'll keep supporting you. This was Faker and Gumayusi from T1, congratulations for the victory! How do you feel? I don't think much. I've known quarters, semis and final. We just need to lift the trophy. I will only feel something once we'll win. 3-0 for T1. OK, honour is intact. At home, everyone played well. Faker was clearly better

than his direct opponent and Oner really crushed his and played it smart. After the match, he explained that he sensed his opponent was having a bad day, which he took advantage of by attacking him to the hilt. Oner once again silences critics with his performance and T1 stays alive. And I'm genuinely delighted for them. And the match that awaits them in the semi-finals is likely to be absolutely hellish. The quarters were just LNG. Well, LNG are very strong but T1's next opponents are in a class of their own. Here's JDG. Remember the Chinese super team

which, at the beginning of the year, was predicted to win it all? This is literally what's happening. On LoL the equivalent of the Grand Slam, is called the Golden Road. Winning the four major tournaments of the year : The Spring in their region, then the MSI, then the Summer in their region and finally the Worlds. No one has ever won all four in a row. It would be to mark LoL's history in a way that even T1 failed to do. Proof of an unprecedented level of domination. JDG are three wins out of four. All they

need now are the Worlds. They play in the LPL, China's top division whose level has exploded in recent years to the point where it seems to be threatening the LCK. Not only have the JDG just dominated the LPL, but so will the rest of the world's teams at the MSI. At these Worlds, they came out of the group stages 3-0 and they've just knocked out KT Rolster 3-1 in the quarter-finals. This is the team that finished first in the Summer LCK regular season. JDG are terrifying. There isn't a LoL player on the planet, not one

in this stadium who would be confident in facing them. The individual level of these players, their collective level, the quality of their training, their picks, everything is terrifying. And Faker, at T1, he can finally feel what his opponents felt six years earlier, when they were told they'd have to face the best team in the world and the best player in the world. Because on the other side, there's Ruler. The player everyone calls the best botlaner in the world and even, at this stage, as the best player in the world. The individual, whom more and more

viewers describe as Faker's greatest rival, the player whose elimination of Faker in 2017 went viral. The player above all, who buried his opponent's hopes five years earlier which left the former world's best player trembling on his desk, unable to rise to greet his opponents. Now that's Ruler. Surrounded by phenomenal players who form a team who seems destined to snatch the trophy for a fourth time this year and mark the history of League of Legends as it has never been marked before. And opposite, we have T1 to stop them. And the match is legendary for many

reasons. I'll start with the cutest. The Worlds anthem is played and sung by New Jeans. It's a KPop group that went viral in 2022, one of whose biggest fans is Keria. Reaching the grand final would mean being able to take a photo with the group. Keep in mind that Keria is fighting two battles. Then more seriously, a few months earlier, I didn't mention it, but Korea took part in the Asian Games on LoL by forming a team including Faker, Zeus and Keria, so T1 players, as well as JDG players Ruler and Kanavi. Besides, Korea won

and that's good... Except that the guys who brought the medal back to Korea are now on opposite sides of the stage. Next, the match between Faker and Ruler, which I've already told you a lot about. The latter had beaten him in 2017, but also in the LCK Summer 2022 final and at the last MSI. That's a lot. Another thing, of course, T1, in addition to fighting for the survival of their roster, they must uphold their nation's honor on their nation's land. Because there's already a Chinese team in the final. And if T1 doesn't go through,

that'll make two in the final. While we play in Korea. And that would be unacceptable. In fact, everyone knows that the winners of the semi-final we're about to watch will also be Worlds winners. It will be T1 or JDG. The real finale is here. Last point for T1, it's now or never. If they lose, they lose their roster. They won't be playing together anymore. This is their last chance. The match is legendary. Before it even started. Can you imagine the tension? Inside, it's unbreathable. Everyone knows that if T1 loses, South Korea will have no team

in the grand final. Everyone knows that if T1 loses, Faker may not have another chance to win the Worlds. Everyone knows that if T1 loses, well, the five players they have become so attached to will no longer be playing together. All they have to do is win three games. It's literally now or never. We go in. I'll try to freeze Vi. Focus Vi. Don't get baited. Care! We need to be careful. It's fine. Careful Zeus. Xayah no ult. Care above. - Setup is good. - Fight is good. We got them. Him too. We can do

it! Got Vi! Vi! Don't get baited. It's okay. It's not good. Play slow! Slow, we're in a good position. I'm dead, leave! Unlucky, it's okay. 1-1. At the moment it's tensed, but it's possible. T1 are up to scratch, they can win, and even saying so seems wrong. It's JDG they're up against. That said, 1-1 is just a tie. To win, teams must win two more games, it's far from done. And momentum is on JDG's side who have just won this second game. Then we move on to the third, and this is a very important one.

The draft, the selection of champions is to T1's advantage with an almost perfect composition top tier champions that players enjoy playing. From JDG's point of view, it's quite different. The picks are quite strong individually and obviously in the hands of very gifted players. But there isn't necessarily cohesion between the champions. Basically, their picks make it difficult for them to do anything else than adding their talents rather than multiplying them. What this means for JDG, is that they're about to play a game with a stopwatch over their heads. If they don't take big advantages in early

or midgame, the composition of T1 will logically take over. Let's do what it takes to be ahead. I'll engage if there's an opportunity. They want to dive? Let's try! Go! Renekton behind. Need heal. Got Wukong. We need to back off. I'm going topside. We can get him. It's okay bot as well. We engage top. Renekton no W? Nice. Ashe is here. Ashe has ult. Varus no flash. We go in. Cover me. I'm dead. It's not good. I can mark below. We need to leave. I engage. Leave it. They're 1HP. It's fine, leave them. Let's settle.

At this stage, the two teams are in a relative tie. T1 had the advantage, having recovered a Nashor and a kill, which would probably have been enough to win the game. But they wanted a little more and rushed to eliminate 369 which miraculously manages to survive where T1 loses three players. Too bad. And it continues at 27 minutes, JDG manages to catch Oner then Zeus, who was trying to hide to surprise the opposing team. It looks like T1 are passing up their chance. By trying too hard, they forget what's essential. Someone has to do something,

an idea comes up and T1 seizes on it. So Faker watches and waits for the opportunity. The game approaches 30 minutes and the two teams meet in the center. In the midlane, Faker is still waiting. He observes, concentrated and maybe he remembers what happened five years ago, in 2017 when Ruler used his flash to eliminate him and win the Worlds. This is the kind of action T1 needs. So Faker searches. Wow, Faker. It was insane. Can we end? It's over. Let's keep going. Let's take it. I put a portal inside. Let's burst. Need ult here.

Let's back off. Care Ori ult. Nice. Don't die. I got Aatrox. Sorry, I underestimated him! Just one arrow. He got three and now Zeus flashes! All the roads lead to Faker! The turret! Focus turret! We play the fight. Let's go! We win! Bel'Veth! Zeri! Look, look! NewJeans, I'm coming! Gocheok Sky Dome, I'm coming! T1 who were seen as underdogs, now rise to the top of these Worlds! Now, they're the ones we expect the most, after stomping JDG, and now entering the last chapter before victory. T1 wins. It was only the semi-final, but it was the

semi-final and I wasn't lying about what it meant for the rest. Because T1 arrives in the grand final against their fourth Chinese Worlds team, Weibo Gaming. Not the strongest in the tournament, because they just knocked down the strongest. The Seoul Skydome is packed. The air is electric, the tension palpable. You can't find a free seat in the stadium and online viewers number in the millions. Because everyone wants to see what's going to happen with their own eyes. In fact, to be honest with you, everyone already knows what's going to happen. Because Faker is here, because

T1 are on a mission. Because the honor of their homeland is at stake, because the survival of their roster is at stake. And because perhaps, deep down, all those second places accumulated over the months didn't happen to let us know that the team needed to change but to make us fully appreciate what's about to happen. We'll do our best. The draft is as expected. We just have to deliver. As expected and we have our comfort pick. Let's stay calm and we can win this. Let's not get carried away when we have the advantage. I push

the lane. Jayce down. My hands are freezing. Well played Zeus. Sorry for the weird gank earlier. Next game, we stick to the plan. Well done. T1 win the game with a stomp! GG! T1 now lead 1-0! Senna! Engage slowly! Look here! I can't, back off! Back off! The dodge was insane. Kalista no cleanse. Well played! I'm going bot, take top Faker. Go forward! It's over! Zeus, you hard carried! Keep it up for the next one. Zeus, you're so good! Their botlane is better than expected. It's not even funny. One more game, let's not settle down.

Let's not do that. No need voodoo. Keep it up! Oner, what a relief! I didn't have much to do! Can you hear me? Great. Try not to move your leg too much. I'm trying to do it now so I won't during the game. Guma-complaint! Guma's complaining! We have a good angle, slowly. Look Varus! Look Varus! We almost got him. Zeus, TP bot after. Mid, mid, mid! TP, mid! TP, mid! Well done! That's how we end! Well played! Seriously, well done! My brothers. My teammates are popping of! It's the time we all dreamt of. Well done!

Seriously, well done! Is it real? Did we really win? Well played! It's over? We're going to win? Faker 4th Worlds title! T1 4th Worlds title! Zeus, Oner, Gumayusi and Keria's first Worlds! What epic Worlds! Faker, after 7 years. Seven long years. The emperor is back to destroy the Nexus! The flower blooming on the edge of the cliff is all the more beautiful. T1, maybe in their final form with this roster, after a long journey filled with ups and downs, with passion, managed to bring the most beautiful victory to their supporters. They all bloomed well. Everyone

did an incredible job, especially Zeus, but who else than Faker to represent T1? Of course, it's Faker! In the core of League of Legends, yesterday as well as today, all roads lead to Faker, the one and only. The GOAT! The legend! Seven years. It had been seven years since Faker had tasted victory in the Worlds grand final. It had been seven years since he had touched a trophy of this class. Seven years if he didn't sink into oblivion, he seemed to be gradually slipping into the background, first behind his team-mates, then behind his opponents. He

was known as the greatest player of all time, but whose level of play seemed dazzled by the memory of a younger Faker and who we didn't quite imagine was capable of lifting another Worlds trophy. And yet, here he is. And here are his team-mates Zeus, Oner, Guma, Keria, our team of prodigies that we had to wait years to be seen differently than Faker's teammates and who, little by little, over the months and especially that day, lifting their first Worlds trophy with a Korean team in front of a Korean audience, are definitively legendary. I think we

were right to get attached. And we can go on because for T1, maybe it's just the beginning. A few weeks after the Worlds, the structure announces that the five players are staying together. They want to continue the adventure for a third year in a row. And on LoL, things like that just don't happen. Except for T1. Good for us and good for them who find themselves with a new challenge on their hands. That of establishing a dynasty even more dominant than that of 2015. All the more so as T1, determined to support the move, announces

the return of kKoma. The greatest coach in the history of League of Legends, the man with whom our story began and the one I'm finally going to leave you with.