Introduction: The S16 season competition has officially begun, and most players have been closely following the recent matches. The tournaments across various major regions have gradually concluded. The LCK region, as a top-tier league that attracts widespread attention, saw Gen and bfx teams secure spots for the World Championship. T1, the team that had repeatedly won world championships, failed to withstand the pressure and regrettably ended their run prematurely. In recent livestreams, the reunion of old and new T1 members sparked widespread discussion among players. ZOFPK teamed up for a gaming session, leading many to joke that Doran was still let down—it seems Faker still prefers Zeus. Meanwhile, T1 announced a significant decision: the second-best mid laner in history, Pawn, has joined the team as a coach.

LOL's second-best mid laner officially joins T1.

Most players are quite familiar with T1, a top-tier powerhouse in the LCK region. Over the past few years, T1's overall performance has been outstanding, consistently winning World Championships and establishing themselves as the undisputed strongest team in League of Legends, with Faker achieving six championship titles. This season, T1's results were somewhat disappointing, especially in the playoffs, where consecutive losses to bfx and DK teams led to their absence from the Global Pioneer Tournament. It seems T1's team synergy isn't fully stable yet, though this is typical for them—they often only awaken when reaching the World Championship finals.

T1's offseason has been quite lively recently. The team officially announced that League of Legends' second-best mid laner, Pawn, has joined as a coach for their secondary squad. LPL fans likely remember Pawn well—he is also a World Championship winner. During his time with EDG, he was undoubtedly the core player; whenever he was present, Scout couldn't secure a starting position. Recently, Pawn's back condition has improved, prompting many fans to suggest that instead of coaching, he should rotate with Faker as a starter. After waiting so long, Faker finally has his Pawn.

Recently, T1 has been enjoying Hextech Chaos matches, with Faker leading a group of friends in gaming sessions. An amusing moment occurred when many pro players, including Oner, Keria, and Peyz, joined their lobby. At the top lane position, everyone was surprised—instead of Doran, who performed excellently this season, it was their old friend Zeus. Even Faker chuckled upon seeing the ID, leading fans to joke that Doran was ultimately let down.

Indeed, Zeus's departure from T1 was largely due to management issues. After winning a championship, they tried to lower his price and ultimately gave up the top-tier top laner for just 100k—an offer that insulted a world champion. The situation seems even worse for Gumayusi: Zeus returned, but he couldn't join, suggesting he was truly sidelined. Although T1 didn't achieve strong results in the first stage, fans still highly support them, especially Peyz. In just a few years since his debut, he has become one of League's players with the most pentakills globally, tied with Ruler and Gala—each has 12 pentakills in their career. If he continues for a few more years, he might lead the count.

Final thoughts:

It's unexpected that Pawn joined T1. As a veteran esports figure with dedication, his coaching should be excellent. Honestly, many fans wish to see him return to the pro stage, but after EDG's management reportedly "broke his back," he couldn't continue. Hopefully, T1 can adjust well during this period—only Faker's presence can truly boost the entire league's popularity.

What do you all think about this situation?