Reeling off a 2-3 defeat in the 2022 Worlds, LCK’s consistent top team is out for revenge to begin the 2023 season.
Oddsmaker bet365 expects T1 to defend their LCK Spring crown with the team coming in with the lowest odds at 3.00. Not that far off their rivals in DWG KIA at 4.00 and Hanwa Life Esports at 5.00. These two teams in particular are a surprise top candidate to become the winner of the 2023 season’s opening tournament.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 2nd, 9:00 P.M. (EST)
T1 previously won the Spring tournament to almost guarantee them a slot at The World Championship last year via accumulated Championship Points. The team looks to run it back after a close, neck and neck fight against fellow LCK standout DRX, who got into the tournament through the last chance regional qualifiers by coming in as runner-up. Longtime T1 legend and probably the face of Riot’s MOBA game, Faker, will hope to lead his team back to the main stage. T1 also came in second during LCK Summer last year, which gave them a ticket to last year’s world championship.
If their regional success last year continues this year, there is no doubt that T1 will breeze right by and find themselves in contention for another world title.
However, there are a lot of strong teams in contention against South Korea’s most consistent winners. DWG KIA picked up Deft from the championship winning DRX team who saw a lot of changes. Deft is one of the most celebrated Korean players and has been grinding it out since 2013. The veteran as set his eyes on leading yet another team to the title.
DRX only maintained BeryL from their championship winning roster as everyone else opted out of renewing their contracts after winning one of the most prestigious awards in all of eSports. Hanwa Life Esports managed to sign Kingen and Zeka, the top and mid lane players of DRX that has bolstered their chances of winning the Spring leg of the season.
Meanwhile, another staple organization will be tested with some roster moves themselves in Gen.G. The team has maintained its legacy, always being at the top despite its numerous roster reshuffling. The arrival of Peyz and Delight as their new Bot and Support players will be put to the test immediately two months after joining the squad. Substitute jungler Youngjae also left the squad after last year’s world championship to join Freecs, a team owned by South Korean streaming giant, AfreecaTV.
With a host of changes occurring during the off-season, will T1 prevail as LCK Spring kicks off?
