On the 14th, T1 defeated Gen.G 3-2 in the ‘2026 LoL Champions Korea (LCK)’ Road to MSI 2nd Seed Decider held at the Wonju DB Promy Arena in Gangwon-do, securing the final ticket to the MSI. With this victory, T1 ended Gen.G’s bid for a fourth consecutive MSI appearance and a three-peat, while simultaneously setting a record of their own by qualifying for the MSI for the fifth consecutive year.
The following is the full transcript of the T1 team’s press conference.
Q. You won today’s match and secured your spot in the MSI. Please share your thoughts.
‘Doran’: Since it was such an important match, we all prepared hard, and I’m happy with the result. I’m excited to head to the MSI and want to show everyone an even better performance.
‘Oner’: We didn’t make it as the 1st seed, but I’m very relieved we qualified as the 2nd seed. I’m satisfied because I thought today’s match was fun and featured a lot of great plays.
‘Faker’ = It wasn’t an easy match today, but I’m satisfied that we finished with a good result and played a great series with my teammates.
‘Peyz’: I think it’s very meaningful that we refocused and overcame the challenge together. I’ll do my best at the MSI.
‘Keria’ = I’m also happy because I think we all enjoyed the game together today.
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon = I’m happy that the players performed so well and rewarded us with a victory.
Q. Since the 2024 season, you had lost every best-of-five series against Gen.G that went to five games. However, you won today. What do you think made the difference.
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon = Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to records, and I think the players feel the same way. I think we just won because our focus was better today.
‘Faker’ = In a best-of-five, I think the outcome is always decided by the variables of the day or slight differences in preparation. Gen.G is a very strong team, and we are also strong enough now, so I believe either side can win or lose at any time.
Q. In Game 1, when the opponent moved Jayce to the jungle, T1 moved Sion to the mid lane and picked Olaf for the top lane. I’d like to hear about the pick-ban process at that time.
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon = We anticipated that the opponent’s ‘Canyon’ could play Jayce jungle well, so we knew they might flex it. As for the mid Sion pick, we had prepared it during practice, and since ‘Faker’ has a very good understanding of Sion, we decided to go with it.
Q. There was a lot of criticism regarding your performance and pick-ban strategy in the match against Hanwha Life two days ago. How did you provide feedback during the break to enable today’s victory?
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon = It was our first match after the patch changed, and things didn’t go as well as we expected. After the match, we talked a lot with the players, and we all watched the Gen.G vs. KT match yesterday to prepare thoroughly.
Q. It seems the pick-ban battle was difficult as it went to five games. How did you view Gen.G’s pick-ban style, and how did you plan the final Game 5 pick-ban.
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon = By Game 5, many AD junglers were still available, and we thought combinations Gen.G frequently uses, like Renekton-Nidalee, might appear. We talked it over well with the players, and although ‘Oner’ hadn’t played Naafiri much in tournaments, he had practiced it a lot, so we felt our composition turned out very well.
Q. (To ‘Keria’) You mentioned in the broadcast interview earlier that you were disappointed with your play today. What exactly were you disappointed about? (To ‘Peyz’) You grew very well in Game 4, but what was difficult about closing out the game?
‘Keria’ = My performance didn’t match the laning phase setup. I could have done better, but I was complacent, and I made quite a few skill errors during teamfights.
Q. (To ‘Peyz’) You grew very well in Game 4, but you lost. What was difficult about closing out the game?
‘Peyz’: In Game 4, I had grown enough to carry the game on my own, but it had been a while since I faced Gangplank, so I think losing the psychological battle with the powder kegs was a major factor.
Q. (To ‘Keria’) You were caught on camera saying “We won” after picking Neeko in the Game 5 pick-ban. However, Gen.G had better momentum early in Game 5.
Why did you make that comment early on, and what were your thoughts when things were going south?
‘Keria’: I didn’t mean to guarantee a win when I said “Nice.” Usually, we discuss strategies once the team compositions are locked in, and since everyone agreed our composition was strong, I just expressed approval. Despite facing some challenges after a good start, we still had a buffer for mistakes and had secured objectives like dragons, so I felt confident during the game.
‘Keria’: Enchanter supports lost value with the new patch, leading to a shift in the meta. Although we initially thought they were still viable in practice, our experience in the tournament against Hanwha Life proved otherwise. After reflecting on this, we decided to pivot away from enchanter supports to adapt to the evolving meta, which other teams like Hanwha Life had already grasped.
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon: The players are adept at managing their own well-being. After today’s match, they will take a break before gearing up for the upcoming challenges. Those preparing for the Asian Games will have limited rest time, but I trust they will utilize it effectively.
‘Oner’: While winning smoothly is ideal, close matches are common in eSports. Today’s intense match was enjoyable and memorable, culminating in a victory that left a positive impact on both players and fans alike.
‘Doran’: Despite being the focus of Gen.G’s aggression, I remained vigilant in the top lane and adjusted my gameplay accordingly. The decision to pick Gragas in Game 5 was premeditated, and I prioritized leveling up certain skills to suit the tanky playstyle required in that match.
‘Faker’: In the crucial dragon fight in Game 5, we seized an opportunity to capitalize on the opponent’s mistake, leading to a successful teamfight despite being at a numerical disadvantage. It was a calculated risk that paid off well.
‘Faker’: The Fearless pick-ban format necessitates a diverse champion pool in the mid lane, leading to the frequent appearance of champions like Lissandra in Games 3, 4, and 5. Additionally, Lissandra’s unique strengths made her a favorable choice in this series.
‘Keria’: During a teamfight, we recognized the need for healing reduction against resilient opponents. With no immediate options available within the team, I made the decision to sell my Ruby Crystal and purchase an Oblivion Orb to address the urgency of the situation.
I believe there was a clear impact during the teamfights.
Q. This marks your 5th consecutive appearance at MSI, yet victory has eluded you thus far. The hunger for a title must be intense. Please share your determination for this upcoming MSI.
‘Doran’: This will be my third time at MSI, and after falling short last year, I am committed to thorough preparation to deliver a strong performance for our fans.
‘Oner’: With my fifth MSI appearance approaching, the absence of a trophy is disappointing. I am determined to work hard and bring home the coveted title this time.
‘Faker’: As in previous years, we are presented with a crucial opportunity. I am eager to seize this moment and demonstrate our capability to win the MSI.
‘Peyz’: This marks my first international tournament since joining T1, and I am focused on achieving positive results.
‘Keria’: Despite attending multiple MSIs, the absence of victory has been disheartening. Reflecting on past tournaments, I aim to deliver my best performance at this MSI.
Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon: While the MSI title has eluded us so far, I am determined to prepare diligently for a successful outcome that will gratify our fans.
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