T1’s Faker: “This is Not My Last Shot” at LoL Worlds

Four-time Worlds champions T1 shocked the League of Legends community once more by coming back to the top in 2023.

They built up their form throughout the tournament, from mere contenders to outright prohibitive favourites. Now they are back with more energy for the year 2024.

Even as a roster, T1 came dangerously close to not qualifying for Worlds this year. Some did not think they were a team that could contend for the title, but they proved them wrong and fought their way up the ladder and finally got a much-needed win over their LCK counterparts, Gen.G, after a string of 11 straight losses. This win has placed them in a grand final showdown against China’s Bilibili Gaming (BLG).

Aiming for History: T1’s Chance of Winning a Fifth Title

If T1 wins one more series, both T1 and Faker will be the five-time Summoner’s Cup champions. Before the final match, the team held a press conference to share their experience and expectations for the future.

Faker: Still Building on It

During the press conference, the greatest League of Legends player of all time, Faker, was asked what he will do if he wins this fifth title. His answer showed he’s far from finished:

This is not my last shot even if I get to win Worlds this year. I will continue striving and trying my best.

For those who are interested in how Faker can stay so fresh in the game, he gave a brief look into his daily schedule and said that he does yoga. He admitted that due to his tight schedule he has not been able to practice as often as he would have wanted during Worlds but assured that he is in shape.

Meanwhile, T1’s standout bot laner Gumayusi shared his own routine, which includes some light sunbathing and a morning run or walk to start his day on the right foot:

I get up in the morning, open the curtains, take a sunbath, and then I brush my teeth, I have a cup of water. Then I do a little stretching and go off for a run or a walk.

These insights reveal the hard work and regimen that goes into making these players champions—and that they are still people like us.

Family Support Keeps Faker Going

Faker also thanked his family for their support during this competition. With his grandmother rumored to have traveled from Korea to London for the final, he said:

It is providing a lot of energy and support to me. I didn’t get much time to spend with family, but they have been standing by me both on and off the field. They even ordered food from restaurants in the area. It was very, very nice.

Keria: A Creative Force in the Bot Lane

Another important figure for T1, support Keria, has been a trailblazer of the bot lane meta, famous for experimenting with strange support champions. His creativity was on full display with unique picks like Pyke, Nunu, and Fiddlesticks during the quarterfinals against FlyQuest and Gen.G. Keria explained that this meta flexibility is a hallmark of international tournaments:

I believe we are observing more pocket picks at Worlds because every team completes their meta analysis much faster than in the domestic league. They have more time to practice off-meta picks, which gives us a chance to see a lot more creativity.