'Keria' Ryu Min-seok identified the team's weaknesses and vowed to get better.
T1 fell 1-2 to Dplus KIA in the opening round of the 2026 LCK regular season at LoL Park's LCK Arena in Jongno, Seoul on the 17th at 7 p.m. After dropping the first set, T1 bounced back in the second, but they surrendered a late comeback in the third and lost the match, dropping to 2-3 overall.
The third set proved decisive. T1 leveraged Ryu's Pyke for an early lead, but Dplus KIA successfully drew them into midgame skirmishes and turned the tide with a painful comeback.
After the match, acting head coach "Tom" Im Jae-hyeon told reporters, "Watching the first two sets, I thought the players were focused. We were massively ahead early in the third set. Aside from the mistake itself, I wanted the team to group up quickly and force the fight, but that didn't happen, and we lost."
On the third set's ban-pick, he said, "Ryu handles Pyke well, and in that delicate mid-top dynamic Ryu pushed to play it. We picked Mel because his lane clear is similar to Ziggs and he pairs well with Pyke." Im added, "I think our team communication around midgame timing breaks down. We'll address that."
Ryu was blunt after the loss: "We were in a winning position in the second set but closed it out messily. We were also ahead in the third, but we were lacking in several areas and lost." He broke it down further: "All three lanes started well, so we had early control. But when we had the advantage, trades and kill exchanges went poorly. Those mistakes accumulated and cost us the game."
On the team's overall development, Ryu offered a clear assessment: "Last year the meta centered on teamfights—engagements were the focus. Now, while fights still matter, the meta rewards more flexible play and calculated trades when you're ahead. In that respect, our team communication is insufficient."
