T1 is a Korean esports team most recognized for their League of Legends achievements. SK Telecom T1 K and SK Telecom T1 S joined forces to create the T1 LoL squad. They are the first and only team to win three World Championships, two of which were consecutive. But where did it all begin? Keep an eye out for further information.
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Korea's eSports scene
To properly comprehend T1, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of Korean esports. Korea has developed esports at a significantly quicker rate than other nations. According to several esports experts, the professional StarCraft scene in Korea marked the start of esports as we know it today. The western hemisphere was slow to adopt the concept of esports and never considered it a legitimate sport. However, we can now watch numerous live Esports events on television, and their influence is growing. But what if I told you that such was the case in South Korea more than 15 years ago?
While Europe and America prefer to establish branded Esports organizations like G2 or Liquid, Korean businesses saw the marketing potential of esports early on and invested in it.
Large corporations saw marketing potential and began to form their own marketing departments. One of the teams was T1. It was formerly called as SK Telecom T1, after one of South Korea's largest telecom firms, SK Telecom. T1 and its LoL squad still belong to the business, which owns 54 percent of it. The most intriguing aspect is that as of this year, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, the greatest LoL T1 player, has also become a part-owner of T1.
“I'm looking forward to continuing to play for T1 and am grateful to all of the supporters who have supported me over the years. I am honored to join T1 as a part-owner, and I look forward to continuing to work with the leadership team when my playing days are over. I adore this group and am honored to be a part of shaping the organization's future. – False
T1 formation
Following the launch of the League of Legends Korea server, SK Telecom chose to form two separate teams - SKT Telecom T1 #1 and #2. They recruited a squad for the first team in late 2012, the same roster that would later become SK Telecom T1 S. Initially, the lineup was made up of former Eat Sleep Game players:
- Cho "H0R0" Jae-hwan
- Bok "Reapered" Han-Gyu
- Kim "Raven" Ae-jun
- An "MighTiLy" Jeong-UK
- Han "StarLast" Jin-hui
Only a few months later, in February 2013, SKT formed their second squad, SK Telecom T1 #2 (T1 K), centered on Faker. Bae "Bengi" Seong-woong, Jung "Impact" Eon-yeong, Chae "Piglet" Gwang-jin, Lee "PoohManDu" Jeong-hyeon, and Faker, who was not well-known at the time, made up Team #2.
Even by today's standards, the lineup on display here is remarkable. A squad that was intended to be a "sister" second-class reserve team turned out to be the polar opposite. Team #2 has already won two major trophies, the OnGameNet Champions trophy and the Summoner's Cup, just seven months after its inception. If any of the names on that list ring a bell, it's because several of these athletes went on to become great team coaches later in their careers.
The War on Telecommunications
The rivalry between KT and SKT, two of South Korea's biggest telecommunications corporations, predates League of Legends and is one of, if not the, oldest in esports. SK Telecom T1 and KT Rolster have been competing in Korea for the longest time.
In late 2012, KT, like SKT, formed two League of Legends teams, Teams A and B. It didn't take them long to seize control of the Korean market. Both squads were well-known and feared by the summer of 2013. For the first time in this game's history, the two organisations clashed in the finals in August 2013. SKT possessed more raw firepower and better individual players, while KT was regarded as a team with superior team cohesion and team play.
With a flawless record in the regional play-off group stage, T1 dominated the Hot6iX Summer Championship. They only lost one game till the very end. The grand finals, on the other hand, did not proceed as planned. They would have most likely lost the game if it hadn't been for Faker. That day, the whole world witnessed Faker and what he was capable of. That was the game in which Faker made history by destroying Yoo "Ryu" Sang-wook.
SKT T1 won the contest after five games and qualified for the World Championship as Korea's best team. Unfortunately for KT, second place wasn't enough at the moment to guarantee a spot at Worlds.
The 2013 League of Legends World Championship
Many doubters questioned if SK T1 #2 had a chance to win Worlds 2013. They were sorely mistaken. After only losing one game against OMG, the squad went 7-1 in the group stage. During the bracket round, they continued to dominate, winning both the quarterfinals and semi-finals without losing a game against Germania Bears and NaJin Black Sword, respectively.
The Grand Finals were unique because T1 had to play Chinese powerhouse Royal Club, one of the tournament's most outstanding teams. They were the favorites to win, and it seemed like the Chinese squad would have an easy time of it. T1, on the other hand, had something different in mind. T1 didn't simply win the game that day; they destroyed them, winning the competition by a score of 3-0.
That was the first Worlds trophy ever won by a Korean team, and it marked the start of a Korean dynasty on the professional League of Legends scene. Faker was also named best player of the year after just one season of competitive play. SK Telecom T1 # 2 was changed to SK Telecom T1 and SK Telecom T1 #1 was renamed to SK Telecom T1 S at the conclusion of the season to eliminate the hierarchy between the two teams.
T1's Fall
SKT's 2014 was a disaster, particularly for the T1 K lineup. Due to health issues, PoohManDu had to quit the squad, and Casper was brought in as a substitute. The new crew did not work well together, and the outcomes were less than satisfactory. They finished in the Top 8 in both the Spring and Summer Splits, but lost in the regional finals and missed out on qualifying for the World Championship they had won the year before. The Summer Split saw SK Telecom T1 S finish fourth, however they were unable to qualify for the Worlds.