T1's Redemption Arc: Oner's Pantheon Dominates as DN Freecs Faces Potential 0-18 Season

T1's Dominant Performance: A Return to Form?

The world champions T1 secured a convincing 2-0 victory against the struggling DN Freecs in Week 5 of LCK 2025 Spring Season on May 2nd, 2025. While T1 has shown inconsistency this season with several unexpected losses, this match displayed glimpses of their championship form. However, the question remains whether this victory truly signals T1's resurgence or merely highlights DN Freecs' ongoing struggles as they remain winless with a 0-9 record.

In the first game, T1 demonstrated their superior macro play despite some early game shakiness. Oner's Xin Zhao was particularly impressive, securing a 6-2-8 scoreline while Faker's Azir provided consistent damage and zoning with a 1-1-10 performance. The gold difference ballooned to nearly 10,000 in T1's favor, showcasing their ability to capitalize on DN Freecs' mistakes and snowball their advantage.

Game two featured an even more dominant showing from T1, with Oner switching to Pantheon and delivering a masterclass performance that had fans reminiscing about his peak form. The 7,500 gold lead by mid-game illustrated the gap between these two teams, as T1's coordination around objectives proved too much for DN Freecs to handle.

Oner's Resurgence: The Jungle Difference

The standout performer of this series was undoubtedly T1's jungler Oner, who has faced criticism earlier in the season for inconsistent performances. Against DN Freecs, however, he showcased why he remains one of the most feared junglers in the LCK. His Xin Zhao in game one was clinical, but it was his Pantheon in game two that truly stole the show.

Finishing with a combined KDA of 13-4-14 across both games, Oner's aggressive playstyle and objective control created insurmountable pressure for DN Freecs. His confidence was evident in a memorable moment when he attempted a 1v3 play and laughed it off afterward – a sign that the pressure might be lifting from T1's shoulders.

Reddit user ahritina noted: "Oner has truly excelled this split," highlighting that even during T1's struggles, their jungler has been a consistent bright spot. His synergy with Faker in the mid lane created space for Gumayusi and Keria to thrive in the bot lane, demonstrating the well-oiled machine that T1 can be when firing on all cylinders.

The jungle difference was particularly apparent when compared to DN Freecs' Pyosik, who struggled to make an impact on Naafiri in game one and couldn't find angles to influence the map in game two. This disparity in jungle performance became a focal point of community discussions following the match.

Faker's Calculated Control: The Demon King's Steady Hand

While Oner might have claimed the spotlight, Faker's steady performance across both games provided the foundation for T1's success. His Azir in game one was a masterclass in zone control, finishing with a 1-1-10 scoreline that belied his impact on the game. His positioning during teamfights created space for Gumayusi to deal damage safely, while his Emperor's Divide ultimates consistently separated DN Freecs' frontline from their carries.

In game two, Faker continued to demonstrate why he remains one of the most respected mid laners in the world. His ability to absorb pressure while maintaining CS advantages gave T1 the stability they needed to execute their gameplan. Across both games, Faker achieved an impressive 10.5 KDA (4-2-17), showcasing his ability to contribute significantly while minimizing deaths.

What makes Faker's performance particularly noteworthy is how he adapted to T1's current needs. Rather than forcing highlight plays, he focused on enabling his teammates – particularly Oner – to shine. This selfless approach highlights the evolution of Faker's playstyle as he continues to reinvent himself to match the team's requirements.

The mid lane matchup against Pungyeon was particularly one-sided, with the DN Freecs mid laner struggling to find any momentum against the veteran Faker. This disparity contributed significantly to T1's ability to control the pace of both games.

T1's Jhin Composition: A Strategic Masterpiece

One of the most impressive aspects of T1's victory was their execution around the Jhin pick in game two. The composition centered around Gumayusi's Jhin created multiple angles of attack that DN Freecs simply couldn't counter. The combination of Jhin's Deadly Flourish with crowd control from other team members created pick opportunities that rapidly snowballed into objective control.

As one Reddit commenter noted: "T1 with this Jin comp can really do no wrong." The composition allowed T1 to take fights from multiple angles, with Pantheon's ability to dive the backline creating space for Jhin to unleash damage from a safe distance. The vision control established through Jhin traps further limited DN Freecs' options for engagement or escape.

This strategic approach to drafting highlights T1's adaptability and depth of champion pools. Despite their inconsistent results this season, their ability to craft and execute specialized compositions remains world-class. The Jhin-centric strategy also demonstrated T1's understanding of the current meta and their willingness to innovate rather than simply following established patterns.

The success of this composition raises questions about why DN Freecs allowed T1 to secure these comfort picks. As one Reddit user questioned: "Did they actually allow T1 to secure Viktor and Jhin?" This draft oversight may have contributed significantly to DN Freecs' struggles in the series.

DN Freecs' Ongoing Struggles: The 0-18 Possibility

This defeat marks DN Freecs' ninth consecutive loss this season, putting them at serious risk of becoming the first team in LCK history to go an entire split without winning a single match. The community has begun to speculate about the possibility of a historic 0-18 record, with comments like "DNF going for the legendary 0-18 run" becoming common on discussion boards.

The team's struggles appear to stem from multiple factors. Their early game laning phase often looks competitive, but their inability to translate this into mid-game advantages has become a recurring issue. Against T1, this pattern continued as they managed to stay relatively even in the early stages before falling apart when objectives and teamfights became the focus.

Berserker remains a bright spot for the team, with his Tristana in game one and Varus in game two showing glimpses of carry potential. However, the lack of coordination across the map has made it difficult for any individual player to truly shine. As one Reddit user commented: "I'm not sure if T1 came out on top in this series or if DNF (excluding Berserker) just dropped the ball."

The team's struggles have led to calls for significant changes, with some fans suggesting a complete roster overhaul might be necessary. The pressure continues to mount with each defeat, and the psychological impact of their winless streak cannot be underestimated.

Community Reaction: Mixed Feelings About T1's Victory

Despite the convincing scoreline, the community's reaction to T1's victory has been notably mixed. While some fans celebrated the return of more decisive gameplay from the world champions, others remained cautious about reading too much into a win against the league's bottom team.

One Reddit user summarized this sentiment perfectly: "It's somewhat unclear where T1 stands, to be honest. In their first match, they struggled significantly in the early stages, while the second match showed improvement... However, it's important to note that they were up against the 0-8 Freecs."

This cautious optimism reflects the high standards T1 fans have come to expect from their team. After back-to-back World Championship victories, anything less than dominance raises questions. Another commenter noted: "Against a stronger team T1's early would be punished harder. T1 would have definitely lost game 1 against HLE & GenG if it was the same gamestate 10 mins in."

For DN Freecs fans, the mood is understandably somber. Comments calling for roster changes have become increasingly common, with one user bluntly stating: "Absolute disband angle for DNF." The frustration is palpable as the team continues to struggle without showing significant signs of improvement.

Looking ahead, T1 will need to prove they can maintain this level of performance against stronger opposition to truly convince fans they've returned to form. For DN Freecs, each match becomes increasingly crucial as they fight to avoid the ignominy of a winless split.

Looking Ahead: Implications for Both Teams

For T1, this victory provides a much-needed confidence boost after a period of inconsistency. While questions remain about their form against top-tier opposition, the clean execution displayed against DN Freecs suggests they're working through their issues. Particular attention will be paid to whether Oner can maintain his aggressive form and whether the team can continue to execute specialized compositions like the Jhin strategy seen in game two.

The upcoming matches against stronger teams will be the true test of T1's resurgence. As one commenter noted: "Well, at least T1 isn't performing so poorly that they end up in a game 3 against DNF. That's a bit of a silver lining, I guess." This backhanded compliment highlights the current expectations for T1 – anything less than dominance against lower-ranked teams raises concerns.

For DN Freecs, the situation becomes increasingly dire with each defeat. The psychological impact of approaching the halfway point of the split without a single victory cannot be underestimated. Their upcoming matches represent not just opportunities to avoid making negative history, but also chances to salvage some pride and momentum heading into the second half of the split.

The team will need to address fundamental issues in their mid-game decision making and objective control if they hope to break their losing streak. With community calls for roster changes growing louder, management may soon face difficult decisions about the future direction of the team.