T1 is not guaranteed a spot at the League of Legends World Championship this year, as the team has not accumulated enough points to secure an automatic qualification.
Additionally, T1 has been struggling with its performance, making their path to Worlds 2024 far from certain.
Their journey to Worlds 2024 is anything but straightforward, as the team has not been performing at its usual high standard during the LCK Summer Playoffs. They entered the playoffs riding a three-game winning streak, having secured victories against OK BRION, BNK FearX, and Kwangdong Freecs. However, their momentum was halted when they suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat to Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), which sent them down to the lower bracket.
In their series against HLE, T1 struggled significantly, managing only 25 kills across all three games and failing to breach their opponent’s base. This disappointing performance highlighted the team’s current slump, which has been a source of frustration for both the players and their fans, especially given the high expectations following their impressive win at the Esports World Cup.
Luckily, T1’s recent challenge against Dplus KIA on September 1 marked a victory for the former. This match holds significant implications for the Regional Finals seeding, which could have been T1’s last opportunity to qualify for Worlds.
Although the team has a decent record against Dplus KIA in the Summer Split, they have a much less favorable record against Hanwha Life (1-3) and Gen.G (0-4) across both the Spring and Summer Splits. To secure a spot in the World Championship, T1 would need to overcome these formidable opponents, which will be no easy task.
In the Regional Finals, T1’s chances of qualifying might improve, as they would only need to finish in the top two. Fortunately for T1, neither HLE nor Gen.G is expected to be in the Regional Finals bracket, which could make their path slightly easier. The team, led by the legendary Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, may have a better shot against teams like Dplus KIA, KT Rolster, and FearX, depending on how the Regional Finals format plays out.
However, there remains a possibility that HLE could find themselves in the Regional Finals alongside T1, which would present a significant challenge.
No matter the scenario, T1 must string together multiple series wins and overcome their recent dip in form to advance. Whether they can achieve this remains uncertain, which is why their chances of making it to Worlds 2024 are so precarious. The team will need to regain their form and deliver strong performances in the upcoming matches if they hope to secure their place in the World Championship.