In the third phase of the LPL group stage, we have now reached the fourth week. In the last match day, the top-ranked EDG from the Nirvana group faced off against the bottom team LNG. The outcome was predictable, with EDG sweeping LNG 2-0, securing their fifth win in the group stage. With a perfect 5-0 start, EDG is just one step away from the Knight's path, while LNG has suffered greatly, bringing their record in this phase to five consecutive losses without any victories.

The Nirvana group consists of only 10 matches, and LNG has already lost to every other team. If nothing unexpected happens, LNG will likely still be unable to win in the second round, finishing the S15 season with a 0-10 record. On the same day, another match featured a showdown for the top spot in the Summit group, with the 5-0 TES facing the 3-0 BLG. Both teams have been in good form lately, and many anticipated a full BO3 series.

The match result was somewhat surprising, as BLG swept T1 2-0, achieving their fourth consecutive win. Although they temporarily sit in second place on the leaderboard, surpassing TES is just a matter of time. Right from the start of the first game, T1's coach selected a lineup that left the audience confused. Despite having Azir in mid, they locked in Nidalee for the jungle, while 369 in the red side counter position chose K'Sante against the opposing Trundle.

With these two champions in the top and jungle roles, the match result became a foregone conclusion. K'Sante, who could only build tank items, was easily taken out by Trundle's ultimate, proving to be as fragile as paper. Nidalee couldn't coordinate in the top lane, and mid-lane interactions were ineffective. Ultimately, they couldn't farm effectively or secure kills. Although T1 showed great resilience, dragging the game into the late stages, small mistakes led to their defeat. It seems that Azir is indeed challenging to master.

In the second game, T1's lineup had no major issues, but the players performed poorly. They secured first blood in the early game but were quickly retaliated against, with 369 dying repeatedly. However, both sides maintained even economies until the team fight stage, where 369's Lillia did not participate in battles, finishing 22 minutes with a record of 0-1-0. His teammate BoBo was fighting four against five while he was busy farming and healing, resulting in him having less gold than Bin, who was abstractly giving away team fight advantages to the zombies.

Lillia is not a lane-dominating hero, and 369 should have joined team fights earlier. T1 lost several fights because they were outnumbered due to 369's absence from the top lane. By the time his teammates were engaged, he was still farming minions and, crucially, had no teleport available. This situation was quite frustrating; it seemed as if 369 was playing in a secret jungle, ignoring the team's needs and just focusing on farming.

This match mirrored T1's struggles in international competitions. When facing strong teams, if Kanavi doesn't set the pace, the team seems lost. The synergy among the mid, jungle, and support is lacking. 369 feels truly countered by Bin; playing tank roles doesn't match Bin's warrior effectiveness, and playing warriors doesn't surpass Bin's tank performance. The top lane matchup could be described as a total blowout, indicating that Lillia is genuinely not a suitable hero for 369.

Before facing BLG, T1, with a 5-0 record, seemed invincible, but one match revealed their vulnerabilities. The good news is that the third phase has just begun, and losing now provides time for reflection and adjustments. The coach should reconsider the lineup from the first game; with Nidalee unable to coordinate in both mid and top lanes, why pick her at all? By the late game, this champion had zero impact.

Conclusion:

T1's draft, team decisions, communication, and synergy all require improvement. In the current meta, mid, jungle, and support must work together. The first game's lineup indeed lacked synergy, but in the second, all three players could have made an impact, yet there was still no coordination. Relying solely on individual player skills will not lead to victories against strong teams.

So, what do you think is the issue with T1?

Feel free to leave your comments and discuss!