Five remarkable numbers behind T1’s 18-0 LCK spring split

One of the most legendary League of Legends teams of all time just added to their list of accomplishments. The three-time world champions T1 (formerly known as SK Telecom T1) just completed the first undefeated season in Korean League of Legends history. They went 18-0 in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) 2021 spring split after beating DRX.

Like Tom Brady and the New England Patriots going 16-0 during the 2007 NFL season, this remarkable season probably won’t feel fulfilling unless Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and T1 end the year as world champions. They still have to compete in the LCK playoffs, potentially qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational, play in the summer season and then try to qualify for the League of Legends World Championship. However, an undefeated split is a remarkable accomplishment on its own, and it’s worth taking a closer look at it. Here are some of the numbers behind T1’s 18-0 split. All statistics are via LOL stats site Oracles Elixir.

+29

This was T1’s game differential across the spring split. It’s tied for the best game differential since the LCK began in 2016. DWG KIA (known at the time as DAMWON Gaming) also had a +29 game differential during the 2020 summer split. That team only lost two series during that split. That team had a historically great year and went on to win the world championship. The 2015 summer split was the first season that the top Korean pro league instituted an 18-game schedule, and SK Telecom T1 had a +29 game differential that split too and went on to win Worlds.

219

Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong led the LCK in kills during the spring split, with 219, the only player with over 200 kills in the spring. It’s the most kills in a split in LCK history and he’s only the fourth player to get over 200 in an LCK split. Kills aren’t everything, but Gumayusi’s 219 kills do speak to the team’s strength in the bottom lane. Pair that with Ryu "Keria" Min-seok’s 462 assists, which led the league, and you have the best bot lane in the league carrying this team. As good as Gumayusi was at getting kills, Keria was just as good at assisting. Keria was the only player in the league who had over 400 assists. In fact, he had over 100 more than the next best player. Those 462 assists are the most all time in an LCK split.

Photo credit: Riot Games Korea

1,896

One of the more eye-popping stats for T1 this spring was their average gold difference at 15 minutes. Only four of the 10 teams in the league had a positive gold difference at 15 minutes, and 1,896 is more than double the team that’s second in this category. Gold difference is often a good indicator of which team is on track to win a game of League of Legends, and the massive chasm that T1 consistently achieved in their games at 15 minutes in is a testament to how dominant they were.

85%

Knocking down towers is a key part of a team’s journey in eventually taking down their opponent’s nexus. Being the first team to take down a tower doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to win, but it’s a good step toward that objective.T1’s 84% first tower rate this spring was significantly better than the next best team, Kwangdong Freecs, who had a 62% first tower rate.

2

This isn’t a remarkable number but more of a look ahead. This is how many more series wins T1 need to win the LCK spring playoffs and represent Korea at the Mid-Season Invitational. These two series will arguably be more important than the previous 18. Two more series wins will mean a record 10th LCK title for both T1 and Faker and a trip to yet another international competition for the premier LOL organization and their franchise player. The LCK spring playoffs are not double elimination, so if they lose just one series, this 18-0 split will be bittersweet.

Lead photo credit: Riot Games Korea