T1 vs. DWG KIA: 2021 LCK Summer betting analysis

A match between the old and new kings of the LCK is about to unfold in the 2021 LCK Summer Split during week 6. 

The match is between the defending champion DWG KIA and a T1 side that is looking to reclaim the throne this split and potentially make a deep run at the 2021 World Championship. Before T1 can get their hopes up for any of that, it’s time to prove that it can take down one of the best in DWG KIA. 

As the defending LCK champion, it’s expected that DWG KIA will come out punching in this matchup, but it might not be that simple. In the most recent match, DWG KIA fell short to NS RedForce who managed to exploit a lot of DWG KIA’s weaknesses. The weakest part of DWG KIA was once again the bot lane, where NS RedForce knew exactly how to get an advantage. 

This will leave DWG KIA in a shaky spot once again, which T1 will look to exploit. Even though T1 has also been shaky this split, the team is coming off a solid win against KT Rolster. This match was a fairly easy 2-0 for T1, which really got the individual players back into the shape that is needed to take out DWG KIA. Young bot laner Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong and jungler Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon both got the chance to play in that match and really delivered. 

The two young guns have not been part of the core squad in this split so far, but it looks like T1 might be playing them for the time being. Even though neither Gumayusi nor Oner have a lot of experience, the two players have the hunger that is needed to take down a solid opponent like DWG KIA. It could also fit well into the weaknesses of DWG KIA, where Gumayusi will be able to show off his mechanical skill against the rather shaky DWG KIA bot lane duo of Jang “Ghost” Yong-jun and Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee. 

It’s usually expected that mid laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is the one to carry a game like this for T1, but that might not be the case this time around. It currently seems that Faker is focusing on calling the shots around the map and letting his younger teammates do the carrying. 

This will be the way to go for T1, but DWG KIA will by no means make it easy. If the defending champion hit its best game on the day, there’s still too big of a gap between the two rosters for T1 to overcome. 

T1 vs. DWG KIA rosters: 

T1 roster: 

• Top – Kim “Canna” Chang-dong
• Jungle – Moon “Cuzz” Woo-chan / Moon “Oner” Hyeon-joon
• Mid – Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
• Bot – Park “Teddy” Jin-seong / Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong
• Support – Ryu “Keria” Min-seok

DWG KIA roster: 

• Top – Kim “Khan” Dong-ha
• Jungle – Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu
• Mid – Heo “ShowMaker” Su
• Bot – Jang “Ghost” Yong-jun
• Support – Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee

DWG KIA will be the favorite against shaky T1 squad

With recent results in mind, it’s clear that DWG KIA is starting to improve again. With that said, the team seemed shaky in its most recent game against NS RedForce, proving that they are by no means unbeatable. T1 will enter the match with a bit more momentum and confidence that an upset can be pulled off. DWG KIA will still be the favorite despite its recent results, but T1 also knows how DWG KIA can best be punished. So far, DWG KIA has been punished heavily through the bot lane and it’s likely that T1 will focus there. 

This is why a win for DWG KIA won’t give a higher odds than 1.44, while a win for T1 gives an odds of 2.59. Taking the circumstances into account, the safe choice is still DWG KIA, but based on the odds there will be more value in going with the underdogs of T1.

T1 and DWG KIA will hit Summoner’s Rift on Saturday, July 17.