T1 has confirmed their spot at the KSPO Dome. On the 6th, T1 defeated Dplus KIA 3-1 in Round 3 of the 2026 LCK Playoffs Lower Bracket held at Chzzk LoL Park. Interim head coach Im "Tom" Jae-hyeon and Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon attended the post-match press conference.

Interim head coach Tom emphasized the nature of the victory. He said, "The players played well overall, and winning through a pattern different from our usual style is encouraging for the team." Doran shared both his satisfaction and areas for improvement. While expressing satisfaction with being able to aim higher, he noted, "Looking at it objectively, there were some disappointing aspects, so we need to address them well in the remaining time."

The focus of their opponent analysis was set on Dplus KIA's jungle operations. Interim head coach Tom explained, "We were well aware that they are a team where 'Lucid' often leaves the top side alone and focuses his power on the bottom side. Hyeon-joon was also aware of this and targeted that aspect well."

Regarding the pick-and-ban phase in Game 1, where Cassiopeia and Lucian were split between the teams, he revealed that they had calculated the opponent's composition in advance. Interim head coach Tom felt they had enough options to handle the Lucian-Milio composition, and viewed Cassiopeia as a good champion that even drew ban cards after previous matches.

In subsequent sets, the opponent's mid laner served as the benchmark for ban decisions as well. Regarding Syndra, interim head coach Tom said, "Initially, we banned her to set up our desired matchups, but as mid champions were heavily eliminated across the games, we saw no reason to hand over a champion that 'ShowMaker' plays well and favors." He added that banning Camille was intended to create favorable conditions for the bot lane.

When asked about the factors behind his elevated performance entering the playoffs, Doran did not point to any specific turning point. He answered, "With little of the season remaining and every match being crucial, I focused my mindset even more while preparing."

The review also covered pivotal moments that decided the match. Regarding his decision to Flash forward in the Game 1 Elder Dragon fight, Doran said, "I felt that whichever side took dragon control held the advantage, so it was a quick judgment to push back the enemy formation." Admitting that it could have turned out poorly, he added, "My teammates cleaned things up so well that we were able to win."

Their sights are already set on the rematch against Hanwha Life Esports. Interim head coach Tom noted that while the team is on an upward trajectory, areas for improvement remain. He anticipated that if they refine their early game and late-game macro execution during preparation, they can win. Doran stated, "Since we suffered a disappointing loss in our previous match, we can certainly win if we face them again," adding that he would focus on turning their strengths into bigger advantages rather than overcomplicating their preparation.

An evaluation of jungle Cho'Gath was also mentioned. Interim head coach Tom noted that if dragon fights favor securing objectives quickly, Cho'Gath can comfortably stack and snowball, adding that the team has been practicing it sufficiently.

In his closing remarks, interim head coach Tom brought up their previous comeback loss against Hanwha Life Esports, stating, "We will prepare thoroughly to make sure we win this time, reach the finals, and go all the way to win the championship." Doran promised to manage his condition well and put on a great performance next weekend.

With this victory, T1 secured the #3 seed for the 2026 World Championship.