Faker unexpectedly becomes the center of controversy after the loss to HLE

Not only did T1's loss to HLE put their lineup changes under scrutiny, but Faker's unstable showing also sparked discussions, as many feel the T1 leader is failing to live up to expectations.

Faker's only standout performance came with Galio

In the series BO3 against HLE, Faker had a rather tough day of play. His first game with Galio was where the T1 captain exerted the most influence, leveraging his map awareness, team support, and engagement in fights.

However, when he switched to picks like Locke or Viktor, Faker's impact dropped significantly. Particularly in the laning phase and timing of teamfight engagements, T1's mid laner often appeared slower than HLE's Zeka.

Even with four kills on Locke, most of Faker's advantages came from his teammates setting up favorable conditions. Meanwhile, his Viktor failed to generate enough pressure for T1 to control the game.

The community is debating Faker's form

Notably, the majority of the initial post-match attention was directed at the decision to bring in Painter in place of Oner and how HLE executed their team composition. Faker's performance did not receive much criticism.

This has led some fans to question whether Faker is being given greater leniency by the community compared to other players.

Given his advanced career age relative to the average professional LoL player, it's understandable that Faker struggles to maintain peak form throughout the season. However, T1 remains a title-contending team, making the stability of the mid lane position critically important.

Earlier, Faker also made mistakes during the KeSPA Cup, further turning his form into a point of ongoing concern for fans.

T1 receives a wake-up call ahead of the decisive phase

Realistically, T1 had ample chances to beat HLE, but a series of errors at crucial moments cost Faker and his teammates dearly.

While the loss hasn't directly affected T1's ranking, it serves as a warning sign as the season approaches its critical stretch. If core players like Faker don't regain their consistency soon, T1 could face significant difficulties against top title contenders.