©INVENT1 faced a 1-3 defeat against Hanwha Life Esports in the ‘2026 LoL Champions Korea (LCK)’ Road to MSI Round 3, which took place at the Wonju DB Promy Arena in Wonju, Gangwon-do, on the 12nd. In order to secure the final remaining MSI seed, they will need to emerge victorious against the winner of the match between Gen.G Esports and kt Rolster. Following the match, Acting Head Coach Lim Jae-hyeon expressed disappointment, stating, “Our performance was not up to par. It’s a tough loss to swallow.” ‘Faker’ Lee Sang-hyeok, who was also present, acknowledged, “We were not as prepared as we should have been. We will put in the work to be ready for the next match.” During the post-match press conference, a number of questions were raised regarding the reasons for the defeat. Lim explained, “Our strategy focused on securing Dragons through bot-lane priority and not shying away from Rift Herald skirmishes. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan, particularly around the Rift Herald.” Addressing the failed bot-lane dive, he admitted, “While the dive did not go well, the Rift Herald had a significant impact on the outcome of today’s game.” He also highlighted, “Hanwha Life Esports performed admirably. Conversely, we had various shortcomings in both our draft phase and gameplay.” When asked about the team’s struggles with the current meta, Lim clarified, “It’s not so much about the meta itself, but rather about giving the opponents the champions they desired during the draft phase, leading to compositions that were not in line with our objectives.” T1 will now compete against the winner of the Gen.G Esports vs. kt Rolster match to determine the 2nd seed. When questioned about their expectations for the upcoming match, Lim expressed confidence, stating, “I believe we have what it takes to win regardless of the opponent, as long as we perform at our best. We will focus on addressing our weaknesses and thoroughly preparing by analyzing tomorrow’s match to secure that 2nd seed.” ‘Faker’ echoed this sentiment, emphasizing his determination to qualify for MSI, saying, “Both teams have great potential, so either one could advance. We will prepare diligently to ensure our victory.” Lim and ‘Faker’ concluded the interview by expressing gratitude to the fans who had traveled to Wonju to show their support.
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