One of the biggest video game franchises in the entire world is Call Of Duty. Every single year, Activision releases a new version of the game for fans to enjoy. Although each game ends up being hit with similar criticisms, fans continue buying them. Over the past few years, we have seen a reboot of the Modern Warfare series. Unfortunately, this has led to confusion over the titles as they contain the same words as the games from a decade ago. Moreover, people prefer the OGs by a long shot.
Last year, we ended up getting Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Ultimately, some felt like the game was a disappointment. The OG MW2 is iconic for numerous reasons. Consequently, it was always going to be a tough task for Activision to produce a game that really lived up to the expectations. That said, we are now about to enter the Fall in a month from now, which means a new COD is on the horizon. As it turns out, that game will just so happen to be Modern Warfare 3.
Above, you can find the teaser for this brand-new game. Overall, there is some pretty cool stuff being shown off here in terms of visuals and voices. However, we aren’t getting any gameplay yet. What is good for gamers, is that we now know the release date for the game. As you can see at the end of the clip, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be released on November 10th. This is about when COD games are typically released, making this perfect for the Holiday season.
Let us know what you think of this latest entry into the Call of Duty series, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the gaming world and beyond. We will always be sure to keep you up-to-date and informed.
The 2023 League of Legends World Championships, better known as Worlds 2023, represents a major change for the long-running tournament. Ahead of the 2023 pro season, Riot Games announced that major format changes would be coming to the season-ending tournament. Since 2017, the tournament has operated a play-in stage, a group stage, and a knockout stage.
Starting in 2023, the scope of the play-in stage will be reduced and modified. Firstly, the play-in will no longer feature teams from South Korea or China. Furthermore, a maximum of one team from Europe or North America will be present. The last of the eight teams to qualify for the play-in stage will be determined by a preliminary qualification tournament.
Furthermore, the Worlds Qualifying Series will pit the fourth seed from Europe against the fourth seed from North America. Additionally, the winner of this best-of-five series will compete in the Worlds play-in stage.
Furthermore, the Worlds group stage has been replaced by a Swiss Stage format. Teams will play a maximum of five matches, with their opponents determined by their previous results. Subsequently, the top eight teams in the Swiss Stage will progress to an unchanged single-elimination bracket.
When Is Worlds 2023?
Worlds 2023 will be held between October 10 and November 19, 2023.
Where Is Worlds 2023 Being Held?
Worlds 2023 is being hosted by South Korea. Games will be played in Seoul and Busan. Furthermore, the Grand Final will be hosted at Gocheok Sky Dome, a domed baseball stadium in Seoul. Additionally, it is the first time since 2018 that South Korea has hosted Worlds.
What Is The 2023 Worlds Song?
The official song of Worlds 2023 has not yet been released. The Worlds song is traditionally made available in mid-October, usually around one or two weeks before Worlds begins. However, the Worlds 2022 song was “STAR WALKIN’” performed by Lil Nas X.
How Much Do You Get For Winning Worlds?
The prize pool for Worlds varies each year. There is a base prize pool provided by Riot Games. Furthermore, the prize pool is supplemented by the sale of in-game events and tickets for the event. However, the prize pool for the Worlds 2022 is $2.25 million.
Who Won Worlds 2022?
Worlds 2022 was won by LCK team DRX. They defeated fellow Korean team T1 in a thrilling Grand Final in San Francisco. However, DRX have struggled immensely in 2023 and are unlikely to qualify for Worlds 2023. If DRX do fail to qualify, it would be the first time since 2020 that the defending champion failed to make the subsequent Worlds.
Who Has Qualified For Worlds 2023?
22 teams will qualify for Worlds 2023 based on their performance in their regional Summer split. Furthermore, the 22 places at Worlds 2023 are divided as follows:
1 team from the Worlds Qualifying Series (LEC or LCS)
JDG became the first team to qualify for Worlds 2023. The reigning MSI champions will either qualify as the LPL’s first or second seed, depending on whether they win the league’s Summer split. If JDG beats LNG, Bilibili Gaming will qualify as the LPL’s second seed.
Three regions will no longer be represented at Worlds from 2023. The TCL, which represents Turkey, vacated its Worlds spot to become part of the European Region League system. Similarly, the LCO, which represents Oceania, vacated its Worlds spot and will seek qualification through the PCS. Finally, the LCL, which represents Russia, has been suspended since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Worlds 2023 Rosters
Team
Top
Jungle
Mid
ADC
Support
LCK 1
LCK 2
LCK 3
LCK 4
JDG/LNG
JDG/Bilibili Gaming
LPL 3
LPL 4
LEC 1
LEC 2
LEC 3
LCS 1
LCS 2
LCS 3
PCS 1
PCS 2
VCS 1
VCS 2
CBLOL
LLA
LJL
LEC 4/LCS 4
Worlds 2023 Play In
The Worlds 2023 Play-In Stage will be conducted using the GSL format.
Group A
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Group B
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Worlds 2023 Swiss Stage
Team
Match 1
Match 2
Match 3
Match 4
Match 5
LCK 1
LCK 2
LCK 3
LCK 4
JDG/LNG
JDG/Bilibili Gaming
LPL 3
LPL 4
LEC 1
LEC 2
LEC 3
LCS 1
LCS 2
LCS 3
TBD
TBD
Furthermore, This article will be updated when new information is made available.
Last week, Call Of Duty fans were surprised by the announcement that Nicki Minaj was coming to the game. She’s joining the cast of the 5th season of Call Of Duty: Warzone and Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2. Fittingly, the character has captured both her iconic look and her iconic attitude. She joins the game as a part of a celebration of rap’s 50th anniversary. Fans will also have the opportunity to play as rappers like 21 Savage and Snoop Dogg. As soon as the character became available fans were pouring through some of her hilarious dialogue lines and posting them to social media.
According to XXL, when you select her as a playable character she Nicki Minaj says phrases like “Body bagged them” and “Check your fire ’bout to get on the Queen’s bad side.” The character in game is based on one of Nicki’s alternate identities “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” and comes with an all-pink outfit, pink hair, and a pink gun to match. Getting the character herself requires purchase of a microtransaction. Her “Operator Bundle” costs 2,400 COD Points to purchase. You can listen to some of her voice lines below.
Nicki Minaj has promised fans that her first new album since 2018’s Queen will be dropping later this year. She recently made a tantalizing tweet promising fans that the album would drop on November 17th and be accompanied by a tour. Historically, Minaj hasn’t always been the best at sticking to release dates for things she announces. Many fans have taken the Tweet with a grain of salt. But if the album did eventually release it would be one of the biggest rap moments of the year.
Another one of the big rap moments this year was Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape. Fans immediately noticed the title which sounds quite a bit like a Nicki Minaj album. Uzi recently admitted in an interview that they had similar thoughts but ultimately cleared the project with Nicki. What do you think of Nicki’s appearance in the new season of Call Of Duty: Warzone? Let us know in the comment section below.
MTN DEW® is doubling down on its commitment to uplift diverse gamers with the return of the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge in 2023. This year, the challenge focuses on promoting representation in esports and gaming, supporting HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) student gamers. The nationwide tournament will feature Mortal Kombat 1, the latest installment in the renowned Mortal Kombat franchise.
“Following the success of the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge last year we’re pleased to continue this initiative once again in 2023,” said JP Bittencourt, VP of Marketing, MTN DEW. “Mortal Kombat is one of the most iconic game franchises of all time, and being able to partner with them for the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge is truly an honor.”
Teaming up with Cxmmunity Media, a champion of diversity and equity in gaming and creators of the HBCU Esports League, the Real Change Challenge will be open to all current HBCU students. Contestants will compete for a share of the impressive $500,000 prize pool, coaching, and exposure to esports professionals. The tournament will kick-off October 2nd, 2023 with sign-ups open to all current HBCU students, now through September 8th at hbcuesports.co/realchange.
“Cxmmunity Media is proud to partner again with MTN DEW to further our mission of future-proofing diversity and equity in gaming,” says Ryan Johnson, CEO of Cxmmunity Media. “Access and representation are key factors in attracting and maintaining diverse talent in the gaming industry. We look forward to doing more programming with brands like MTN DEW to serve as a pipeline for more gamers of color to tap into the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry.”
To mark the launch of the Real Change Challenge, MTN DEW will collaborate with RDCWorld at Dream Con, a gaming and anime convention in Austin, TX. The event will celebrate the return of the challenge, featuring Mortal Kombat 11 Amateur and Celebrity tournaments, and The Faces of Real Change in Gaming panel, discussing representation in the esports industry.
“RDCWorld as a whole is very excited to be teaming up with MTN DEW to support the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge,” said Johnathan Newton, Chief Operating Officer of Dream Con. “A lot of people are unaware that our brand RDCWorld stands for “Real Dreams Change the World” and that’s a position we’ve maintained from day one that we would accomplish through entertainment. So, when MTN DEW hit us up and told us about its vision for the Real Change platform it really was a no brainer to team up! Gaming has had a huge impact on every part of our lives and as minorities we’ve personally felt the lack of representation in this space. That’s why RDCWorld is planning on being heavily involved in the creative process and we’re bringing our community and fans along for the ride.”
The tournament kicks off on October 2nd, with 64 players competing in a 1v1 bracket style format. The Live Championship in Atlanta on October 28th will see the top two players battling it out for the grand prize of $45,000. Fans can follow the journey of the HBCU gamers through broadcasts on Cxmmunity Media’s Twitch Channel.
For more information on the MTN DEW Real Change Challenge and how to participate, visit mountaindew.com/real-change and follow @MTNDEWGaming on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage are two artists at the top of their respective games right now. Of course, Nicki is set to release Pink Friday 2 in November. Moreover, 21 is currently on tour with Drake. He has been in Boston for the last couple of nights, however, he will not be making the trip out to Montreal. In fact, 21 cannot attend any of the Canadian events for the tour. Although this has proven to be disappointing, Drake is ready to rock the show on his own.
When you think of both 21 and Nicki Minaj, you probably aren’t thinking about Call of Duty. Well, you may just have to change that attitude, very soon. According to a leaker by the name of @HeyImAlaix on Twitter, there is some data mining that suggests the two artists will soon be characters in the game. They would come in the form of “operators.” Essentially, they would be playable characters that you can use in multiplayer. Overall, this would be for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.
If you are a fan of either of these artists, this news will definitely come as a surprise. However, for gamers who still play Call Of Duty, this is definitely great to hear. After all, COD is one of the biggest franchises in the world. Getting to play as the likes of Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage is a novelty that many can appreciate. Unfortunately, the game has not confirmed their inclusion. For now, this is just a rumor based on a data mine leak. Either way, it is something to potentially look forward to.
While COD games have gotten quite a bit of flack in recent years, there is now doubt they still dominate the industry. The average casual gamer will continue to buy these until the end of time. Let us know if you still play Call Of Duty, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the music world.
July 15 marks the first day of the LEC Summer split playoffs. The remaining eight teams will face off in a GSL-style group stage to determine which four teams move on to the knockout bracket. Furthermore, the group stage runs until July 23.
This is the first year of the LEC’s new three-split format, which culminates in the LEC Finals. That event is set to begin in Montpellier, France on August 19. It will feature six teams – the three split winners and the three teams with the highest championship points. If a team wins a split but has already qualified for the LEC Finals, the automatic berth is passed down to the best-placed team who is yet to qualify.
But who’s left in the competition? Who can still qualify for the LEC Finals? And how can they still qualify? Well, dear reader, we have the answer to all those questions and more.
When Are The LEC Playoffs?
The LEC playoffs begin on July 15. The group stage runs from July 15 to July 23, with matches played on July 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23. The knockout bracket begins on July 28 and continues until July 30.
How Can I Watch The LEC Playoffs?
The LEC playoffs will be streamed on the LEC’s official Twitch page. Additionally, the LEC playoffs are 100% free to watch on Twitch. You can also buy tickets to watch the matches live at the LEC Studio in Berlin, Germany.
Who Is Taking Part In The LEC Playoffs?
There are eight teams in the LEC playoffs. In Group A, we have G2, Koi, Team BDS, and Team Heretics. Meanwhile, in Group B, we have Excel Esports, Fnatic, MAD Lions, and SK Gaming.
Who Has Qualified For The LEC Finals?
Currently, G2 and MAD Lions are the only teams to have qualified for the LEC Finals. They did this by winning the Winter and Spring splits respectively. The winner of the Summer split, or the best-placed team who isn’t G2 or MAD, will also automatically qualify.
Who Can Still Qualify For The LEC Finals?
Excel Esports, Fnatic, KOI, SK Gaming, Team BDS, Team Heretics, and Team Vitality can all still qualify. However, this is where it gets complicated, given that Team Vitality is not participating in the Summer playoffs. Furthermore, Astralis is the only LEC team who cannot qualify for the LEC Finals. They did not make the playoffs and ended the season with 105 Championship Points. This is not enough to qualify as one of the highest Championship Point-earning teams.
Okay Then, How Can Teams Qualify For The LEC Finals?
Let’s do this team-by-team and break down their scenarios. However, as things stand, this is the Championship Points [CP] table. I’ve excluded MAD Lions (250) and G2 (225) because they have already qualified. Furthermore, these points totals reflect the minimum amount of points each team can earn based on the standings at the time of writing. To make things simpler, these totals include the 30 points all teams except Team Vitality can earn for finishing a minimum of 8th.
Team
CP
Team BDS
160
KOI
150
Team Vitality
137
SK Gaming
120
Astralis [E]
105
Fnatic
60
Team Heretics
60
Excel Esports
40
For the sake of simplicity, we’ll say that the minimum total for qualification is Team Vitality’s 137, meaning you need at least 138 points to qualify for the LEC Finals. However, it’s sadly not that simple because we also have to acknowledge that one of the teams in contention will earn an automatic berth.
Excel Esports
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Andrei Pascu “Odoamne” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 10
Excel Esports qualified for the playoffs after a wild final two weeks of the Summer regular season. However, they face the most difficult path to the LEC Finals. Having finished 10th in both the Winter and Spring splits, they bring just 10 CP into the playoffs with them.
The “easiest” route for Excel to qualify for the LEC Finals is to continue their Cinderella run all the way to the Summer split title. However, due to only having 10 CP, the lowest that Excel can finish and still have more points than Team Vitality is second. Even a third-place finish, which earns 120 CP, would still see them finish below Vitality.
However, if SK Gaming finishes eighth, Excel could potentially reach the playoffs as the six-seed if they finish third. Despite this slim shot, it would hinge on how the rest of the table lined up.
Fnatic
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Iván Martín Díaz “Razork” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 30
Fnatic became one of the best teams during the Summer regular season, thanks in large part to their rookie ADC, Noah. However, it has been a tough year for Fnatic, who finished 9th and 8th in the first two splits.
This will be the last time I say as it is true for all teams besides Vitality, but Fnatic’s best way to the LEC Finals is to win the split. Beyond that, Fnatic must finish at least third to surpass the points total of Team Vitality. However, in the scenario in which Excel finishes third and SK Gaming finishes eighth, a fourth-place finish could be enough to finish sixth. However, it would depend on the rest of the table.
KOI
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Mathias Jensen “Szygenda” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 120
KOI slipped a little in the Summer split but benefit from two strong runs in the previous splits. This means that an eighth-place finish in the Summer playoffs still sees them end the year on 150 CP. While dependent on the rest of the table, this should be more than enough to see KOI finish as a LEC Finals participant.
SK Gaming
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Mark van Woensel “Markoon” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 90
It’s been an up-and-down season for SK Gaming but they still have a shot at the LEC Finals. The worst thing that they could do is lose their momentum and finish eighth. That would see them finish the season on 120 CP, below Team Vitality, and as the worst-placed team who could potentially finish on 120 CP. To surpass Team Vitality (137 CP), SK will need to finish at least 6th (a 7th-place finish would see them finish 2 points behind Vitality). However, SK does not really control their own fate as their finish, aside from a top-four, really depends on how the rest of the table shakes out.
Team BDS
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Adam Maanane “Adam” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 130
Like KOI, Team BDS slipped during the summer but are buoyed by their previous performances. They currently hold the highest CP total outside of a split winner. This means that even an eighth-place finish sees them close out with far more points than Vitality (160). It’s hard to see a scenario in which BDS does not make the LEC Finals. It would have to involve the likes of Excel, Fnatic, Heretics, and SK Gaming running the top of the table.
Team Heretics
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 11: Marcin Jankowsk “Jankos” competes at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at LEC Studio on March 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 30
Like Fnatic, Heretics went from bottom three finishes to one of the best teams in the Summer. Unfortunately, that makes their journey to the LEC Finals incredibly difficult. Heretics must finish at least third to surpass the points total of Team Vitality. However, in the scenario in which Excel finishes third and SK Gaming finishes eighth, a fourth-place finish could be enough to finish sixth. However, it would depend on the rest of the table. In short, Heretics have the exact same win condition as Fnatic does.
Team Vitality
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 12: Zhou Yang-Bo “Bo” at a backstage portrait session at the second game day at the spring split at the League of Legends EMEA Championship “LEC” at the LEC Studio on March 12, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)
Current Total: 137
Team Vitality may be in the most interesting position of all LEC teams. They are still in contention for a LEC Finals slot, despite finishing 10th in the Summer split. They have concluded their season with 137 points. As you know from this article, that is the baseline I have been using to mark all other teams. In short, Vitality needs as many teams currently below them to have early exits from the playoffs. However, we will once again remind ourselves of essentially what Vitality needs from each team currently trailing them:
SK Gaming needs to finish 7th or lower
Fnatic needs to finish 4th or lower
Team Heretics needs to finish 4th or lower
Excel Esports needs to finish 3rd or lower
Now, it is worth mentioning, because we are not painstakingly charting out all 64 (?) possible playoff permutations, there is likely a scenario I have not covered. However, this is the most straightforward way to explain what’s at stake over the next few weeks in the LEC.
NBA 2K has gained notoriety for not being great about player ratings. While they are mostly fine on the whole most. However, there have been some glaring exceptions. For example, every single WNBA player in 2K20 had the lowest possible dunking stat. While dunks are not commonplace in the WNBA, saying that 6″9 Liz Cambage and 5″5 Leilani Mitchell are equally bad at dunking is objectively wrong.
Meanwhile, fans loved rating reveal season because it allows them to debate who’s underrated, who’s overrated, etc. After the ratings were “leaked” earlier this week, fans got their first look at how well (or badly) 2k had done year. The top five are to be expected. Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James are all rated at 97. Just below them are Kevin Durant and Steph Curry at 96. However, there are a few surprises. Zion Williamson is a 92 despite only playing 29 games last season. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are an 86 and 83 respectively. Furthermore, Jamal Murray has taken his rating very personally.
Murray Questions 84 Rating
Ain’t no way my rating that low! How is that possible??
Jamal Murray has come out as one of the most vocal critics of the revealed ratings. The Nuggets guard will start the game as an 84. It’s a rating he shares with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Poole, Franz Wagner, Nikola Vucevic, and Nic Claxton. “Ain’t no way my rating that low! How is that possible??,” Murray asked on Twitter. Looking into Murray’s individual attributes, he has great perimeter shooting and playmaking. However, his ratings suffer from sub-80 athleticism, sub-70 inside scoring, sub-60 defense, and sub-50 rebounding.
It’s Murray’s second year starting the game as an 84. His best start to a game was as an 86 in 2k21. This is where things stop making a whole lot of sense. 2k21 was based on the 2019/20 season. That year, Murray’s line was 18.5/4/4.8 with 34.6% shooting from three. 2k24 is based on the 2022/23 season. Last year, Murray’s line was 20/4/6.2 with 39.8% shooting from three. So 2k decided that after an objectively better season, Murray deserved a worse rating than his historic peak. What’s even funnier is that there is a version of Murray on the All-Time Nuggets team, and that version of Murray starts 2k24 as an 85 overall.
100 Thieves has never been content to simply be an esports team. Company founder Matthew “Nadeshot“ Haag has always been very clear about his intentions. He wants to make 100T the luxury lifestyle brand of the gaming world. This has included a partnership with Gucci in 2021, the sugar-free energy Juvee, and series A funding led by Drake. However, one major area the company has invested in is game design.
It all began with the acquisition of gaming peripheral company Highground in 2021. That blossomed into the announcement that 100T were working on their own FPS product simply known as Project X. While Project X appears to be some way away still, 100T aren’t sitting idly by. After all, it would be very un-100T to simply wait for the game to be ready. Instead, they have reportedly jumped on a smaller side project to be deployed inside of the biggest games on the market.
In a video released to Twitter, Nadeshot and 100T CPO Pete Hawley revealed that they would be dropping a Fortnite game mode on July 11. As yet unnamed mode would be a three-on-three heist game. Teams would have to infiltrate a bank, steal money, and then successfully escape. The game was designed in Unreal Engine Fortnite, a UE build that Epic Games has made available for the development of internal Fortnite projects. Fortnite has become the hub for wild promotional crossovers. In fact, 100T feels tame compared to the likes of Marshmello and Travis Scott concerts. There are still few things weirder than being killed by someone in an Ariana Grande cosmetic.
According to Nade and Hawley, their development team was able to put together the game mode in under two months. Furthermore, they stated that they hope to be able to utilize the game to help provide feedback in order to improve UE Fortnite. Meanwhile, Project X continues to be worked on behind the scenes. Elsewhere, 100 Thieves continue to have mixed success in their esports operations. Their LoL team is currently 4th in the LCS. Meanwhile, their Apex Legends team continues to struggle in pro play, as has their VALORANT team.
Speaking after T1’s 2-1 series win over Nongshim RedForce on July 2, Faker revealed that he was being treated for an arm injury. “I haven’t been feeling well recently. I believe my performance since the BRION match may have been impacted because of this […] I am under treatment and in talks with the team,” Faker told the media. The news hit an international audience thanks to a translation from veteran reporter Ashley Kang. While Faker assured fans that he was doing okay, there were fears that Faker would have to step away from the rift to recover. This was especially the case, given the hectic LCK schedule that the fact that T1 were scheduled to play on July 5.
Subsequently, that’s exactly what happened. On July 5, T1 announced that they would bench Faker to allow him to “take a break and focus on his treatment and recovery.” It would be the first time that Faker would miss LCK matches since 2021. Toward the end of the 2021 Spring split, Faker benched himself because he did not believe that he was playing well enough. Ahead of their July 5 series against DRX, T1 announced that academy mid laner Poby would be taking over from Faker.
In theory, it should have been the perfect debut for Poby. Despite being the reigning world champions, DRX have struggled mightily in 2023. They were just 2-6 entering the match against T1. However, they looked like a completely different team in this rematch of the 2022 Worlds Grand Final. In Game 1, they outkilled T1 19-2. While things were a little less lopsided in Game 2, DRX still outkilled the perennial champions 18-6. DRX improved to 3-6 while T1 fell to 6-3.
17-year-old Poby had a debut that he will likely prefer to forget. Playing Jayce and Annie, he went 2/8/2 across the two-game sweep. T1 is next in action on July 8 against league leaders Gen.G. It’s unknown how long Faker will remain sidelined. However, T1’s announcement of his benching makes it sound like they are hoping he will return before the end of the split. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.
By the lofty standards of T1, the 2023 Summer split has been somewhat disappointing. At the time of writing, the team is 6-2 in the LCK. By comparison, T1 have lost just four matches over the last two splits combined. The slow start has seen them leapfrogged by an undefeated Gen.G as well as a one-loss KT Rolster. However, part of the issue may lie with the health of their veteran mid laner, Faker.
Faker, who has been spent his entire career with T1, has essentially professional League of Legends every week since 2013. When he’s not in pro play, he’s more than like at home or at the training facility playing the game. Faker has a 3.7 KDA this split, which puts him around the middle of the league for that category. If he maintains that KDA, it would be his lowest tally since the 2021 Summer split. However, Faker recently revealed that he has been dealing with an injury that has affected his play.
In the press conference:@Faker: I haven’t been feeling well recently. I believe my performance since the BRION match may have been impacted because of this […]
Speaking after T1’s 2-1 series win over Nongshim RedForce on July 2, Faker revealed that he was being treated for an arm injury. “I haven’t been feeling well recently. I believe my performance since the BRION match may have been impacted because of this […] I am under treatment and in talks with the team,” Faker told the media. The news hit an international audience thanks to a translation from veteran reporter Ashley Kang. Arm injuries can be common, especially in more intense leagues such as the LCK. Dplus star Showmaker received treatment for a wrist injury in 2020. Meanwhile a recurring shoulder injury led to the first retirement of Chinese legend Uzi in 2019.
T1 played BRION Esports on June 17, meaning that the issue has been hampering Faker’s play for nearly two weeks. However, T1 has gone 4-1 during that span, only losing to the aforementioned KT Rolster. While Faker reassured fans that the injury wasn’t too severe, he won’t have much time to recover. T1 are scheduled to play DRX on July 5, giving him just three days of rest. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.
