T1 began their 2026 competitive campaign at the LCK Cup 2026, an early-season tournament that serves both as a regional title and a stepping stone toward First Stand 2026 international qualification. The event features a Single Round-Robin Group Battle followed by Double Elimination play-ins and playoffs, with ten LCK partner teams competing until March 1.
READ MORE: Faker and T1 win it all at the 2025 KeSPA Cup at the expense Gumayusi and Hanhwa Life Esports
In their opening match on January 16, T1 defeated Hanwha Life Esports 2–1 to secure momentum in the Group Battle stage. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was named MVP of that series, contributing significantly in mid-lane and providing a stabilizing presence as T1 recovered from a Game 1 loss. Faker’s performance averaged around 4.3 kills, 1.5 deaths, and 3.4 assists per map, alongside roughly 17,000 total damage dealt across the match.
Across the early rounds of the LCK Cup, T1 has maintained a perfect record throughout the Group Stage affirming their excellent form to kick off the 2026 competitive season.
T1 is not at all slowed down by the departure of Worlds 2026 Finals MVP Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyung and the integration of Kim “Peyz” Su-hwan in the bot lane.
At 2026 LCK Cup, Faker continues to demonstrate leadership and in-game influence that often pivot the balance of series. While his raw kill numbers aren’t always the highest on the board, Faker’s macro decision-making and utility usage remain central to T1’s mid-game control and objective focus. His ability to stabilize drafts and redirect team tempo has been routinely cited as a key differentiator in close series.
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The integration of Peyz into the roster has also added a fresh dynamic, with his aggressive laning and damage output complementing T1’s traditional macro-oriented style centered around Oner and Faker. This balance has been evident in matches against both Hanwha Life Esports and KT Rolster.
With the Group Battle’s Single Round-Robin wrapping up, T1’s next objectives are to secure a top placement for play-in positioning and carry this form into the double-elimination bracket. Success there will not only bring regional silverware but also impact their seeding and qualification prospects for First Stand 2026, the first major international event of the competitive season that will take place at Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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