T1’s Hopes for a Three-Peat Could Be Dashing

Following T1’s significant loss to Gen.G during the Swiss Stage of Worlds 2025, head coach kkOma and coach Mata provided insights into the team’s challenges, ranging from miscalculations during the draft to difficulties in execution.

Drafting Issues Highlighted

Mata emphasized that T1’s troubles began at the drafting stage. «Our loss stemmed from poor draft choices. I apologize to the players,» Mata stated in a conversation with FOMOS. The team’s decision to leave Orianna available was controversial, but Mata clarified it was a strategic risk. «We recognized Orianna as a top-tier selection,» he noted. «However, being on red side limited our ban options, so we aimed to exchange a meta champion for priority elsewhere.»

Game Plan Complications

The team’s strategy involved a Wukong-Aurora setup designed to counter Gen.G’s scaling tactics. Despite T1’s intention in drafting this team composition, Duro’s Poppy effectively restricted T1’s mobility during team fights, which ultimately proved to be a misstep.

Mata mentioned that T1 felt constrained in their drafting options. They contemplated banning Poppy to improve their presence on the Rift, but other strategic champions took precedence, leading to less than optimal trade-offs.

Challenges with Red Side Drafting

Navigating the red side once again posed difficulties for T1. «As the fourth seed, we are nearly assured to start on red, and drafting from that position has been problematic,» Mata admitted. He explained that the quick pace of the patch favors early-game strength and complete team compositions, critical factors influencing matches throughout the tournament.

T1’s ban choices, including the Kai’Sa pick, followed a similar logic, targeting Gen.G’s bot lane options while acquiring an effective engagement threat for Gumayusi. T1 committed to an aggressive engagement strategy to eliminate Corki, but Gen.G managed to outpace T1 early in the game, denying Gumayusi the resources necessary to lead as an ADC.

Limited Options for T1

kkOma remarked that T1’s draft restricted their alternatives. «We had fewer possibilities in this game compared to them,» he acknowledged in an interview with OSEN, adding that maintaining composure was challenging given the draft’s difficulties. While T1 attempted to establish leads in side lanes, Gen.G consistently pressured them for objectives, ultimately preventing T1 from executing their game plan. Kk0ma also admitted the necessity for T1 to rapidly adapt to the evolving meta as the tournament progresses.

Focus on Resilience

Despite the setback, both coaches stressed the importance of resilience. «This tough defeat has actually clarified what we need to work on,» kkOma remarked. «It’s only over when there are no more matches left.»

With two consecutive losses, T1’s next challenge will be against 100 Thieves as they aim for the Knockout Stage.