FunPlus Phoenix vs T1

The 2020 Mid-Season Cup is about to begin! If that last sentence has you scratching your head, that alright — this is the first cup of its kind, after all! Because of the raging coronavirus pandemic, Riot couldn’t organize their yearly (and much-anticipated) Mid-Season Invitational, a tournament that would pit the champions of each respective region and have them collide for a sack of cash and a fair bit of glory.

Because that’s not possible at this point in time, we’re getting the Mid-Season Cup, a tournament a bit less grandiose, but no less important and inherently fascinating. For the next four days, we’ll watch four of the best Chinese and Korean teams duke it out on the Summoner’s Rift. That’s ⅔ of the world’s best regions, so it’s not that bad, really. The LCK giants, while they did fall from grace over the last two years, are by no means incapable of competing — on the contrary. Their methods might differ, but they’re every bit as dangerous as in year’s past.

To start the tournament, we have an insanely entertaining clash between FunPlus Phoenix — the defending World Champions, and T1 — the much revered and respected LCK champions. This is a clash of two worlds, two distinct playstyles, and it’s also an absolute must watch. If you’re a fan of competitive League of Legends, this is about as premier a match-up as you can get. While FunPlus failed to defend their LPL throne, they’re still incredibly talented and capable, and the same goes for T1.

There is, however, this ever-present question of playstyles. We’ve watched the LCK fumble and fail in a myriad of ways over the last two years when it came to international competition, and it’s just hard not to wonder whether their “best years” are behind them. Obviously, it’s too early to write them off, but that is a key question that’s still lingering in the air. If they fail to deliver in 2020, then it might as well be time for us to reconsider their overall worth (and the many narratives following their multi-year-long dominance).

The LCK style of play is still as alive and present as ever. That, depending on your preference, might be a good or a bad thing. When it comes to international competitiveness, it’s definitely a fault rather than a virtue. Their subdued, macro-oriented playstyle is certainly a beauty to watch, but it’s as far from the meta as it can get. The best regions in the world no longer adhere to such rules but instead opt to fight and skirmish from the very get-go. That’s a novelty for the LCK, and they’re not used to playing the game by someone else’s rules. That’s why they haven’t found any success over the last two years. It’s not like they suddenly lack the talent to compete or have regressed for whatever reason. Instead, it’s because they’re stubborn and are unwilling to adapt even though all signs are pointing towards them being behind “on the game.”

FunPlus Phoenix, on the other hand, are as aggressive and skirmish-oriented as they come. All signs are pointing towards them being better across the board, and yet it’s always somehow hard to bet against T1 (formerly known as SKT T1). They’re larger than life, and the same goes for their incredible mid laner, arguably the best and most legendary player that has ever taken flesh. We’re truly living in a strange time, now that T1 is no longer the heavy favorite by default. Uncharted lands, really. But two whole years is a lot of time — three, if we factor in 2017 when Samsung Galaxy bested T1 in the World Championship finals.

Then again, FunPlus looked out of sorts a couple of times throughout the 2020 LPL Spring Split, and they couldn’t really compete at the highest of levels once the going got rough.

We’re light on details, and anything can happen going forward which is quite a nightmare for anyone looking to bet on the 2020 Mid-Season Cup.

Still, based on everything that we know, and everything that’s expected, FunPlus should be the heavy favorites. They’re still every bit as good as last year (if not even better after signing former T1 top laner Khan. It’s just hard to come up with any one thing that T1 can surprise them with, although this is the very first match of the tournament and anything can happen.

Everyone and their mother will tune in to this clash, and it’s easy to understand why. Still, with it being the first game of the tournament — and FunPlus Phoenix being slightly less dominant than last year — it’s downright impossible to predict anything with confidence. Regardless, they’re an absolute titan and are playing some of the best League of Legends in the world. T1 are a behemoth in their own right and will surely compete with FunPlus on even footing. In any case, fireworks are all but guaranteed.