TL;DR
- SKT demonstrated complete strategic control with a 3-0 record in Group C’s first half
- Faker’s teleport play at 4 minutes established early dominance that snowballed
- Team maintained discipline despite 10,000 gold lead to secure clean victory
- Composition choice showed adaptability beyond traditional siege strategies
- Group C hierarchy becoming clear with SKT and RNGU as clear favorites

SK Telecom T1 delivered a masterclass performance against Clutch Gaming, maintaining their perfect record through the initial phase of the 2019 League of Legends World Championship. The match carried additional narrative weight as former SKT top laner Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon sought redemption against his old organization but found himself outmatched at every turn.
Entering as considerable underdogs, Clutch Gaming faced even greater challenges than anticipated against the seasoned LCK champions. SKT’s flawless 3-0 start positions them as the definitive frontrunner in what was previously considered the tournament’s most competitive group.
SKT continues to dominate in LoL Worlds 2019
The notorious “group of death” has revealed its true hierarchy, with SKT and Royal Never Give Up establishing clear separation from struggling squads Clutch Gaming and Fnatic. The gap between top and bottom became painfully evident during this systematic dismantling.
SKT’s latest demonstration came through their surgical execution against Clutch. The Korean representatives showcased remarkable flexibility, proving they could dominate with unconventional teamfighting compositions rather than relying on standard meta picks. Their aggressive draft selection featured strong engage tools and skirmishing power that perfectly countered Clutch’s attempted strategies.
The match’s tone was established during an explosive teamfight at the four-minute mark. Nam “Lira” Tae-yoo’s attempted bottom lane gank forced Park “Teddy” Jin-seong and Lee “Effort” Sang-ho into defensive positioning while awaiting reinforcement. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s perfectly timed teleport intervention turned the engagement completely, resulting in multiple casualties for the North American squad.
Huni’s subsequent involvement only compounded Clutch’s troubles, surrendering another elimination without meaningful trade value. This sequence highlighted the coordination gap between the experienced world champions and their less-seasoned opponents.
Faker maintained relentless pressure for the subsequent 22 minutes, demonstrating why he’s considered the game’s greatest player. Despite accumulating a massive 10,000 gold advantage, SKT displayed exceptional discipline – recognizing their commanding position while avoiding complacency that could have surrendered their lead.
A critical teamfight around the initial Baron Nashor spawn effectively ended Clutch’s competitive hopes and illustrated SKT’s superior teamfighting execution. When four Clutch members coordinated to challenge Faker, they couldn’t even damage the seemingly invincible mid laner. Meanwhile, the remaining SKT members secured the epic monster and prepared for their final assault.
The conclusive push progressed methodically due to SKT’s composition lacking traditional siege capabilities, yet they systematically closed out the game while preserving their Group C leadership position.
Group C competition resumes on October 19th, with SKT positioned to secure their knockout stage berth. Their performance raises important questions about whether any team in the group can challenge their systematic approach to the game.
For teams looking to compete at this level, studying SKT’s objective control and teamfight execution provides valuable learning opportunities. Their ability to maintain focus despite large advantages separates championship-caliber teams from merely good ones.
Action Checklist
- Analyze SKT’s early teleport timing in bottom lane engagement
- Study their Baron setup and execution around objective control
- Review teamfight coordination during gold advantage situations
- Compare composition flexibility across different team strategies
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