T1 started their playoff run on a very high note; their performance against Liiv SANDBOX was a complete turnaround from their last match against Hanwha Life Esports. In match 2 of round 1 in the 2021 LCK Summer playoffs, T1 defeated Liiv SANDBOX 3-0 and headed to the next round. After being absent throughout the latter half of the regular split, Park “Teddy” Jin-seong returned with a vengeance against LSB and ended LSB’s season.

T1 dominated Liiv SANDBOX in game 1. From draft, early game invade kill, laning phase to teamfighting, T1 heavily outclassed LSB. T1 managed to win every single skirmish/teamfight with Azir-Kennen-Viego in the front lines; it did not take long for T1 to destroy LSB’s nexus and lead the series 1-0.

Momentum was on T1’s side in the early game of game 2 as well. Scoring kills in both mid and bot, T1’s snowballed continued to grow after they won the Rift Herald contest. In response, LSB focused their macro around the side lanes, managing to close the gap by a little bit. With a Baron steal, the flow seemed to shift towards LSB. However, T1 continued to get ahead in objective teamfights, as Faker-Teddy-Canna were able to shut down LSB’s attempts of getting back into the game.

Unlike the first two games, LSB started off great in game 3. The game itself was pretty neck to neck, as LSB matched T1 in dragon stacks and in kill score. However, one play was all it took for things to drastically shift in T1’s favor. Park “Summit” Woo-tae’s Kennen and Yoo “FATE” Su-hyeok’s Sylas tried to engage using their ults, but the rest of LSB was unable to follow up. T1 capitalized on that misplay for a massive teamfight victory, and closed out the series 3-0.

2021 LCK Summer split playoffs round 1 results

Match 2: Liiv SANDBOX 0 vs 3 T1

2021 LCK Summer split playoffs round 2 schedule

DWG KIA vs NS RedForce [Aug 21, 5pm KST]

Gen.G vs T1 [Aug 22, 5pm KST]