T1 Keria is The Best Player in the World

Every League of Legends Esports fan knows the name of T1 Support, Keria. He began his career with DRX alongside the likes of Chovy, Deft and Pysoik. After a year under their banner, he moved to T1 to play with the greatest player ever, Faker. Now in his third year on T1, the twenty-year-old Korean support is the best player in the world. He evolved into the perfect combination of two League of Legends icons, Madlife and Mata. Legendary LCK Caster CloudTemplar even gave him a nickname, The Legendary Genius Monster. Last year, there was an argument that he was the best player in the world. Now, there is no doubt.

His Incomparable Champion Pool

In the history of League of Legends esports, no player has a deeper champion pool than Keria. Across his seven splits as a starter, he has played 51 unique champions. That may seem like an inflated number given 13 of them only appear once, but compared to other supports it remains an ocean. According to gol.gg, Mata played 32 unique champions from season five to season 9.  From season five to season 10, GorillA played 35 unique champions. Lastly, from season five to today, Meiko’s illustrious career amounts to 40 unique champions. 

It is not just the number, it’s the type of champions he plays at support. Aside from being arguably the best engage support player in the world, he is arguably the top enchanter player in the world as well. It doesn’t matter if it is Thresh, Nautilus, Renata Glasc, Tahm Kench, Lux, or Leona. What makes Keria truly different is the level of pocket picks he pulls out. Not only did he pollute the world with ADC supports, but his exploits on Rumble, Wukong, Zac, Yasuo and Lee Sin are notches in his legendary belt.

Aside from the pure number of champs, Keria can play every support, at a top level in the world. Of the 19 champions with double-digit picks, only two own a win rate of below 50%. His top seven champion picks all own a win rate of over 60%. All of these stats meanwhile ignore the fact he is at or towards the top of every single meaningful support stat globally as well.

Mata-level Influence and Clutch Levels

Aside from being the most successful support in LoL Esports history, Mata is the most influential. He popularized the roaming support playstyle that exists today. Keria’s influence on the global meta could not be quantified during the first three years of his career. Then in LCK Spring Split this year, he introduced the world to a meta so punishing that Riot is still trying to nerf it. That special introduction was the concept of using ADC champions as supports. It started with Kallista but quickly evolved with Ashe, Caitlyn, Jhin and Varus.

The concept focused on heavy poke in the bottom lane, with early all-ins, to gain heavy lane priority. That then allowed mid-jungle to help set up dives and get miles ahead of the opponent. This then allowed for a dramatic snowball effect that could be felt especially in team fights. All of this excludes the nightmare of drafting against teams that could flex these champions across both ADC and support.

This playstyle became so strong in the LCK that Ashe and Caitlyn became the most banned champions in the LCK. Not only that, but Ashe was the fifth and second most picked support in the LCK and LPL respectively. It even spread its easy to the LCS, with the champion earning the 2nd most bans in Spring Split.

T1 stay together on enemy jungle and turn around a lost fight (T1 vs KT)

T1 Keria also finds the small angles to victory in teamfights, just like Mata. Game-winning hooks, clutch Thresh lanterns, immense Renata ults, it doesn’t matter. Legendary plays litter Keria’s career.

Madlife-level mechanics

When people name mechanical supports, the first name that comes to mind in Madlife. The Korean support did not have the longest career, but his peak was the highest of any support player for years. The way he was able to predict where people would end up when using abilities shaped support play to this day. Part of that ability came from his unmatched mechanical ability. Now, Keria may be the better version of Madlife.

Keria – The Genius Monster | CASE FILES

While his mechanical skill immensely extends his champion pool, what he can do with engaging champions is unparalleled today. He is a walking highlight reel. His win rate on Thresh is 68.9%, on Nautilus 77.5%, on Leona 63.5% and Tahm Kench with 68.8%. Just one YouTube search spawns hundreds of clips showcasing Keria’s absurd mechanical plays. He even impressed Madlife himself.

KALISTA Support? LET KERIA COOK! | Plays of the Week

No other support player in the world produces outplays at a high level. Not a single other support has the champion pool Keria possesses. No other support affects the world the way he has. All of that, on top of his immense leadership and shot-calling make him the best support by a mile. Pair that with his ability to singlehandedly dominate games in a way rarely seen in LoL esports history, T1 Support Keria is the best player in the world.

Wolf-level lane Dominance

Alongside Faker and Bengi, no player in the history of SK Telecom T1 is as iconic as Wolf. During his tenure, he was one of the best supports in the world. At his peak, alongside Bang, the duo became on of the most oppressive bottom lane two vs twos in LoL Esports history. Now, in 2023, Keria’s ability in the two vs two is greater than Wolf ever achieved during his run. More importantly, though, he holds more power in the two vs two than Wolf.

This is no slight on Gumayusi, but he is arguably not even a top-three ADC in the LCK. Viper, Deft and arguably Aiming could fill Gumayusi’s shoes in a nearly identical if not better manner. Take that as a statement on the strength of LCK ADCs as a whole, or as the power of Keria. His ability to manage the lane state, provide clutch ability usage, teamfight and save his Gumayusi from running it down while maintaining the duo’s dominance is unmatched. The ADC support meta he created was the offspring of their lane dominance. Now, with a return to engage supports, that dominance will continue with his unmatched Thresh and Nautilus play. He wears the pants in the bot lane, and he dominates everyone else faces.

The Genius Monster Era

By the end of his career, T1 Keria will likely have innumerable domestic titles and multiple international titles. His unique champions played during his career will enter the territory reserved for the greatest solo laners ever. If he stays in the LCK, he finishes top three at worst in all time assists. When all is said and done, fans will look back on this era and marvel how great Keria was at a young age. He will be remembered as the greatest support ever, and the greatest player in the world for a few years.

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