The legendary LoL team SKT1 (now T1) is falling apart after the World Championships in the League of Legends 2019. Support Mata and jungler Clid are already gone. The strong top laner Khan has announced his departure. Even the coach seems to be leaving SKT1.
This is the situation: SKT1 has long been regarded as “THE” strongest team in League of Legends or at least one of the strongest. This was mainly due to mid laner “Faker”, probably the most legendary LoL player of all time:
- SKT1 became World Champion in LoL 3 times: 2013, 2015, 2016.
- In 2017, SKT1 lost the finals against Samsung Galaxy. And then the crisis began.
- 2018 did not go well for SKT1 – they could not qualify.
- Even in 2019, things did not look good at first, but the team became stronger towards the end of the year. It seemed like Faker had now found a strong new core around him with young players that would only get better over the years.
Clid leaves – that was the future of SKT1
These are now the departures:
- The experienced support, Mata, has left the team. That was pretty clear beforehand. Mata hardly played last year.
- But the strong jungler, Clid (20), has also changed teams. He said he did not take the decision lightly. Clid will now play for Gen.G., the former rivals of Samsung Galaxy – they too had fallen into a hole after the 2017 World Championships.
- The top laner Khan announced his departure from SKT1 via Facebook. But he has not found a new club yet. Khan says he is looking for a new challenge and wants to experience a “second spring,” he will turn 26 next year.
- The legendary coach kkOma no longer has a contract with SKT1 and could possibly leave. With him, there is still the greatest hope that he stays.
- In addition, Zefa, Haru, Crazy, and Fly left – these are 3 substitute players and one further coach.
Especially frustrating seems to be that Clid is not moving to China and is out of the league, but rather to the “old rival” Gen.G. – they were long the biggest competition for SKT1 in Korea as “Samsung Galaxy”.
New jungler comes from DragonX
This is now the team: SKT1 has extended Faker’s contract. He will stay in the team until 2021 – on the mid lane.
The contract of the young support Effort (18) has also been extended.
We’re thrilled to announce that Lee “Effort” Sang-ho and Mun “Cuzz” U-chan will be joining T1 for 2020 and beyond, pending league approval. Please welcome Cuzz to the T1 family, and welcome Effort back home! #T1WIN #T1Fighting pic.twitter.com/aBUwUPWFMz
— T1 LoL (@T1LoL) November 21, 2019
As a new jungler, Moon “Cuzz” Woo-Chan (20) has been signed. He was previously with DragonX.
ADC Teddy (21) still has a contract with SKT1 until 2020.
Who plays top lane seems to be still open at the moment.
Above all, the loss of Clid is a blow
This is the background: At first glance and even at second, this looks like a serious blow for Faker and SKT1. Khan and Clid were central to SKT1’s success last year. Especially Clid, at 20, seemed like he still had his best times ahead of him and would carry the weight for SKT1 for years.
Clid is regarded as “the best jungler” in Korea. Top laner Khan is highly appreciated by fans, only players like “TheShy” enjoy a similarly high reputation.
In contrast, Faker seemed not entirely in sync with the rest of the team at the Worlds. In the semifinals of the 2019 Worlds, he showed unexpected weaknesses.
