Amid the anticipations for the League of Legends World Championships of 2023, Team Liquid's illustrious player Hong ‘Pyosik’ Chang-hyeon, known for his prowess as a jungler, brought references to the event's anthem as he geared up for his first faceoff with T1, the second-seeded team from the LCK.
For Team Liquid, the road to their inaugural match at the highly acclaimed championship had been a challenging one. Being the third seed of the LCS, they found themselves drawn against T1 as their opening adversary, a match-up that had a high probability of landing them their first loss in the initial stage of the Swiss Rounds.
The leadup to the event saw Pyosik alluding to the Worlds 2023 Anthem. His comments suggested his readiness to foster his team’s journey through the competition.
"In a moment of candid admission to a Korean news outlet Daum, the jungler expressed, “I thought God had abandoned us. Nonetheless, it's a hurdle we must cross to progress to the quarterfinals. I intend to savour it, without any pressure."
In a turn of reminiscence, Pyosik reflected on his e-sports career a year ago, when he played for DRX.
Pyosik masterfully orchestrated a win against T1 at the 2023 World Championships with a score of 3-2. His previous team's voyage to their victory could be seen immortalized in the video of the Tournament Anthem entitled “GODS.”
Following this career-making achievement, Pyosik transitioned to the LCS. Signing with Team Liquid, he once again found himself on the international stage.
Anticipations for a rematch of the thrilling game with T1 at Worlds 2023 continue to build as Pyosik readies himself for the challenge.
LCK’s T1 had quite an impressive run, leading up to their participation in Worlds 2023.
The team had been on the verge of being crowned champions in their preceding season. The Mid-Seasonal Invitational saw them snagging the third place. Their dominant form continued as they finished second in both the Spring and Summer Playoffs of the LCK.
However, the close calls at championships had caused a visible strain on the ensemble of the LCK group. As a result, many players have indicated that this contest is likely to be their last with the current team.
Over the time, the ongoing dynamics within T1 have subtly shifted the scales in Team Liquid's favour
However, the fanbase does not seem too optimistic about the North American team's odds against the global behemoth. Team Liquid has had a lukewarm season, with them securing an eighth-place finish in the Spring Season and fourth in Summer.
The nail-biting encounter comes to the fore on October 19. Arbor Day it will be when Team Liquid is set to take on T1 in the opening day of the main event, thereby providing a measure of LCS's standing in the worldwide arena.