Faker: The Return to the Field Seems Farther Away
Despite coach Tom stating that Faker would resume training on his own, there is bad news about the recovery timeline for the Immortal Demon King. The legendary midlaner was supposed to return to the field in the match played yesterday by T1 against Hanwha Life Esports, but he was nowhere to be seen.
In the press conference held after the match, the team’s coach explained the situation, dashing the hopes of fans who were anticipating an imminent comeback.
Let’s try to understand what’s going on and what will happen in the coming months to grasp the near future of T1.
Extended Recovery Time for Faker
Initial Team Projections
As many of you may know, Faker suffered a serious arm injury on July 2nd, which forced him to take a break for treatment. At the same time, the team had estimated a relatively short recovery time.
However, it seems things are not as straightforward as anticipated. According to calculations, the Immortal Demon King was supposed to return to the field yesterday (Friday, July 21, 2023) against Hanwha Life Esports, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Poly (his substitute) played regularly, sparking some discontent among fans who were expecting Faker’s grand return. This uncertainty prompted the organization to provide clarifications, as coach Tom promptly explained the situation in the post-match press conference.
Statements from Coach Tom:
“Faker is still focusing on his recovery. We will monitor whether he will be able to play or not, and if he can, we will announce it separately. His health is the most important thing, but we are trying to get him back at least for the playoffs.”
End of the Regular Season
In short, coach Tom’s words have effectively concluded Faker’s regular season, as he will have to remain sidelined for a few more weeks. The start date of the LCK playoffs is set for August 8th, but it’s not certain that T1 will make it there. Their position in the standings is rather precarious, and since Faker’s absence, they have suffered 4 defeats and only managed one victory.