New T1 debuts in KeSPA Cup with win, heads to semifinals
T1, formerly known as SK Telecom T1, is living up to expectations in the 2019 KeSPA Cup.
The team took down tournament favorites Gen.G in a series that went to three games, advancing to the semifinals in the process.
The victory comes after a tumultuous off-season which saw T1 deal with multiple high-profile departures. Though many were expecting the new T1 to be weaker than the 2019 iteration of the team, it only took T1 one series to prove the haters wrong.
T1 trusts the young talent
All eyes were on T1’s newcomers, rookie top laner Kim “Canna” Chang-dong and former DragonX jungler Moon “Cuzz” Woo-chan.
In the top lane, Canna stood his ground and absorbed the pressure like an experienced player. Not even constant gank attempts from former T1 star Kim “Clid” Tae-min were enough to set him back. Canna had a solid performance throughout the entire series and is looking like the hottest rookie heading into 2020.
In the jungle, Cuzz proved to be a worthy replacement for Clid. The jungler was aggressive and assertive, and played well around his laners. While the junglers were mostly even during the series, Cuzz had the edge and ended up looking like the better player.
It wasn’t a perfect performance for T1. The team appeared hesitant at times and got over-eager when it came to team fights against Gen.G, which showed a tendency to play through the bottom lane even when it wasn’t the strongest side of the map.
In the end, the series was decided by the compositions, with scaling proving to be the difference. T1 advanced to the semifinal where it will face Sandbox Gaming. Gen.G will return to the stage in the LCK spring season.
DragonX stays strong
On the other side of the bracket, DragonX continues to dominate the competition. The team, led by the controversial coach Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho, made it to semifinals after a victory over Damwon Gaming.
DragonX started its 2019 KeSPA Cup run in the elimination round and has a perfect record to this point. The team is looking more like Griffin than Griffin itself, with star Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon dominating the mid lane. DragonX is heading into the LCK spring season as the frontrunner for the title.
In previous years, bottom laner Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu was the main star of the team. This time around, every single player will get a chance to shine and carry the team to victory. With such a strong roster around him, Deft has become an even more solid player.
DragonX, like T1, is betting on the young talent this year. The team is starting rookie jungler Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon who has been consistent throughout the 2019 KeSPA Cup. DragonX is facing Afreeca Freecs in the semifinals.
Read Also
Esports Betting
Top Esports beats Team WE in the LPL, qualifies for MSI 2026
Wasif Ahmed
Against all odds, Top Esports faced Team WE in the LPL upper bracket final. Both teams fought over a spot for the Mid-Season Invitational that everyone expected Anyone’s Legend, Bilibili Gaming, or JD Gaming to claim. In the end, TES paused WE’s Cinderella story as they beat them 3-0. Before this series, World Elite had defeated two LPL powerhouses in BLG and AL. Against TES, though, they suddenly lost all ...
League of Legends
G2 Esports complete comeback against Karmine Corp to win LEC Spring 2026
Hannan Mundia
After a fairly smooth split, G2 Esports emerged victorious in the 2026 LEC Spring split grand final by making a comeback against Karmine Corp. The 2026 LEC Spring split has finally concluded. With spots at MSI and the Esports World Cup on the line, every professional European team gave it their all to get as far as they could. While most teams fell quickly, Karmine Corp and G2 Esports managed ...
Esports Betting
G2 Esports vs Karmine Corp 2026 LEC Spring: Best odds, picks
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Spring split is about to conclude, with G2 Esports and Karmine Corp facing off one last time to see which team qualifies for the Esports World Cup. While both teams have done well to make it to this LEC split’s grand final, only one team can be crowned the victor. With a direct ticket to the EWC on the line, there’s a strong chance that G2’s dominating ...
Esports Betting
MKOI vs Karmine Corp 2026 LEC Spring betting preview: Best odds and picks
Hannan Mundia
Two LEC spots are open for this year’s Mid-Season Invitational, and MKOI will battle against Karmine Corp to determine which team grabs it. The ongoing LEC Spring split is almost done, and only three teams remain. While G2 Esports has already established itself as the strongest so far with a guaranteed spot in the grand final, Movistar KOI and Karmine Corp will battle it out on the big stage for ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Road to MSI: Teams, format, and schedule
Hannan Mundia
With the LCK 2026 Rounds 1-2 complete, the qualified teams will battle it out in Road to MSI. With two spots for the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational and one spot for the 2026 Esports World Cup on the line, here’s everything to know about the LCK 2026 Road to MSI. Six teams have qualified for Road to MSI, but only two MSI spots are available for this region. While powerhouse teams ...
Esports Betting
KT Rolster vs T1 2026 LCK Season Rounds 1-2: Best odds and picks
Hannan Mundia
KT Rolster and T1 will face off in the last week of 2026 LCK Rounds 1-2 to potentially improve their starting position at Road to MSI. KT Rolster and T1 have both had their moment to shine in the ongoing 2026 LCK split. With one week remaining, the two teams will battle against each other for a chance at acquiring second place and starting with a significant advantage in the ...
Esports Betting
EWC officially heads to Paris for 2026 as early reports confirmed
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris, France from July later this year as per an new announcement by the EWC organizers, the Esports Foundation. Revealed in a post on their official social media, and an accompanying release and blog post, the announcement confirmed earlier speculation that the event would move location due to the “regional situation” around Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here’s the info: The Esports World ...
