Games

Gumayusi reflects on benching controversy: “I’ll make sure fans aren’t ashamed of being my fans.”

BBG News

During his birthday livestream, T1’s Gumayusi interacted warmly with his fans, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support and offering insights about the potential trajectory of his professional journey ahead.

This time around, T1’s League of Legends (LoL) squad has been under scrutiny instead of their usual limelight. The five-time World Championship team faced an unexpected setback by missing out on qualifying for First Stand 2025 and further sparked controversy due to a sudden shakeup in their roster.

The controversy can be traced back to January 24th, when T1 unexpectedly replaced their main bot laner, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung, with Sin “Smash” Guem-jae from the T1 Academy during their match against KT Rolster in the Telecom war. This decision caused an uproar among fans who felt it was disrespectful to bench a two-time Worlds champion so early in the season without a clear explanation given.

Finding support in difficult times

At first, Gumayusi handled the circumstances via his T1 fan account, offering comfort to fans who were perplexed and distressed, stating that he would use this situation for personal growth instead. Moreover, during his birthday livestream earlier in the month, he openly discussed the situation, explaining how he has been managing the sudden shift while engaging with his supporters and providing a glimpse into his coping mechanisms.

It’s commonly said that hardships reveal genuine individuals, true inspirations. Indeed, I’ve noticed this pattern in my life recently. It seems as though both my supporters and those close to me show an extraordinary amount of concern for me.

In addition to consistently being present in the team’s room during all T1 matches, Gumayusi has maintained a strong focus and can often be found diligently playing solo queue. At the time of this article, he holds a League Points (LP) rank of 1,085, demonstrating his dedication to regaining his place on the main roster. He is frequently spotted practicing champions like Ezreal and Kai’Sa, indicating his resolve to adapt and enhance his skills.

People have noticed and appreciated his dedication, praising his resilience and expressing pride in him. In response, Gumayusi conveyed his attitude: “I carry this mindset with me. I think, ‘Let’s ensure that my fans won’t feel embarrassed for being my supporters.’

Special shoutout to Vietnamese fans

It’s quite remarkable that both T1 and Gumayusi have a vast international following. However, what truly astonished him was the intense backing from Vietnamese fans. They are consistently tuning into his live broadcasts and sending uplifting messages. Grateful for their support, he expressed a wish to travel to Vietnam in the future.

It’s clear that Vietnamese supporters are sending their fair share of affection too. Thanks a million! And yes, the cheers come from all corners of the world. A big thank you to everyone. Admittedly, I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Vietnam yet, but it’s definitely on my bucket list.

Fervent Vietnamese enthusiasts have significantly boosted League of Legends Esports viewership, peaking at approximately 1.1 million viewers during the Worlds 2024 finals. Their involvement in live discussions and social media platforms has intensified, particularly following Trần “LazyFeel” Bảo Minh’s historic achievement of becoming the first non-Korean player to participate in the LCK.

A brief discussion on retirement

In simpler terms, during his birthday livestream, Gumayusi discussed future plans, including the subject of retiring – a thought fans aren’t ready to entertain, given current circumstances. Yet, he assured them that although retirement is an eventuality for every professional player, it’s not something he’s contemplating just yet.

I’m not sure how you’ll react if I share this thought, but once I stop working as a pro gamer and retire, I can’t help but wonder how my story will unfold. Frankly, it’s something that piques my curiosity as well. With so much of my life being dedicated to gaming professionally, I suspect that retirement might feel strange for me.

Watch the fan-translated stream below:

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2025-02-19 03:10

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