T1 is making history once more.
When it comes to making history, nobody does it like T1 and they have done so yet again, this time with all five starting players being awarded the All-LCK First Team. This makes T1 the first organisation in LCK history to do so by ensuring all five starting players make up the All-LCK First Team. They also came close last year with four-fifths of the team being named in last spring's first-team lineup.
This further solidifies T1's legacy within the LCK with the eight-time league winners already in the semifinals of the LCK Spring Split playoffs. T1 finished the group stage with a 17-1 score with its sole loss coming against Hanwha Life Esports. While they could not replicate last season's undefeated Spring Split run, this was still a monumental feat, given how T1 was one of the few teams to not make any roster changes during the off-season.
The team also came close to lifting international silverware on two separate occasions last year. Unfortunately, it was not to be for T1 as they lost out to both Royal Never Give Up at the Mid-Season Invitational as well as to DRX at Worlds last year. But instead of letting that derail the team's steady progress over the last few years, it has only elevated the team to new heights, which is evident in the All-LCK First Team award.
It's also worth noting that T1 won 11 of its 18 matches 2-0. This shows that the team is capable of sweeping its opponents with relative ease, ensuring it rarely ever drops a match in a best-of-three series. While a best-of-five is an entirely different setting, it does put T1 in the right mentality that they can still hold teams back from winning. And to add the cherry on top, T1's jungler Ryu "Keria" Min-seok was awarded the regular season MVP as well as the 'Player of the Split' award.
T1's domination of the LCK regular season goes to show that in the league setting, not many can come close to what T1 has accomplished. However, there is still the matter of international dominance, which is something that has long been missing from the organisation. While it's reign over Korea still holds strong, T1 will be looking to carry it forward to London for MSI as well as for Worlds when it's being played in their backyard.
As for the All-LCK Second and Third Teams, they were a little more diverse. Gen.G Esports has four players in both lineups while Dplus KIA and KT Rolster round it up with three players each. Here is what the All-LCK Second and Third Team look like:
Gen.G has been one of the LCK's best teams for some time, having already proven themselves last season. This year, however, they will still have to contend for second-best in the LCK. But one of this season's biggest surprises has been KT Rolster with the team finishing in third for the group stages. Dplus KIA rounds up the top four contentions, who haven't really been at their best but still show plenty of promise for the playoffs.
With the LCK Spring Split playoffs taking place later today, T1 will not be in action until two days later when they will face the winner between today's match-up between KT Rolster and SANDBOX Gaming.
