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
These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4
Ben Boland
The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...
League of Legends
Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends
Hannan Mundia
After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More
Hannan Mundia
2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...
League of Legends
LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...
League of Legends
How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version?
Hannan Mundia
League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...
League of Legends
Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode
Hannan Mundia
League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...
