The recent addition of young talented mid laner Lee “Clozer” Ju-hyeon to the T1 starting LCK roster came as a shock to many. T1 fans were not happy when they heard that the most successful player in League of Legends history, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, had to take up a spot on the bench. But things have been going well for the team since the move.
Clozer was subbed in for week 7 of the 2020 LCK Summer Split after some shaky performances by the team. The new talent instantly gave a spark to the Korean side, and they haven’t looked back since.
Clozer has been a part of T1 since May 2019, but the young solo queue prodigy hasn’t made his debut until now. Clozer just turned 17 years old, which makes him one of the youngest players in professional League of Legends today.
T1 is currently on a five-game winning streak without dropping any games to its opponents. While T1 still has their toughest opposition ahead of it, the side has managed to take down such teams as KT Rolster and Afreeca Freecs convincingly.
2020.08.09 MVP of the Day by T1
T1이 선정한 오늘의 MVP는?
꼰…크흠 선배들 사이에서 존재감을 뽐내고 있는 “Clozer” 이주현 선수입니다!MVP of the Day awarded by T1 tonight goes to Clozer!#T1WIN #T1Fighting pic.twitter.com/fobNuWLrvg
— T1 LoL (@T1LoL) August 9, 2020
Why is T1 doing so well after replacing Faker with Clozer?
Filling the shoes of Faker is no easy task, but Clozer has been doing it way better than most people would have expected. While no one will probably ever have the same long-term impact as Faker, T1 has found another way to play the game through different parts of the map.
It’s unlikely that Clozer was subbed in to be the new main carry, but instead to get some stage experience that will help him on his journey to be the next T1 star. Clozer has mostly showcased his Zoe, but has also played other champions including Syndra and Karma.
Clozer has been a solid force in the mid lane and it seems that his presence has enabled other parts of the team to succeed. Moon “Cuzz” Woo-chan has been a monster in the jungle since the change, showcasing his enormous champion pool and general impact around the map. Together with top laner Kim “Canna” Chang-dong, he has suddenly proved that T1 can win games through the top side of the map without needing to rely on their mid lane to carry.
Jumping to the bot lane, Park “Teddy” Jin-seong and Lee “Effort” Sang-ho have shown the consistency that is needed for the team’s success. Teddy has only died an average of once during the team’s last ten games, proving that he is back at the consistent level that he has been known for since his time at Jin Air Green Wings.
It’s hard to point out one specific reason why T1 is suddenly doing better with Clozer, but it seems like the team is now more flexible and is able to play through every lane. Faker is still an important part of the team since he brings experience and star power. Fans may still see Faker back in the mid lane during the playoffs when everything is on the line.
T1 has two matches left in the regular season, against two tough opponents in DAMWON Gaming and DRX.
