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T1 addresses Gumayusi’s benching in the 2025 LCK Cup

BBG News

2025 LCK Cup sees Team 1 thriving, yet there’s growing disappointment among fans due to the unclear reasons behind the sudden sidelining of player Gumayusi.

In simple terms, Team 1 is doing well in the 2025 League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK) Cup, sitting at the top of Group Baron with a score of 3 wins and 1 loss as the tournament completes its second week. Yet, not every fan is rejoicing about this success because there’s a controversy surrounding the unexpected sidelining of Team 1’s standout botlaner, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung, without any advance notice or explanation provided thus far.

Gumayusi benched early in 2025 LCK Cup

Initially, the team that unveiled their revamped DOFGK squad kicked off their 2025 LCK Cup tournament with a tight 1-2 defeat against DK, but swiftly recovered to beat DRX by a score of 2-1. In the second week, spectators were taken aback when T1 announced a significant shift in their lineup, as they replaced Gumayusi with their academy bot laner, Sin “Smash” Guem-jae, in the starting roster.

In a new and innovative approach, Smash contributed valuable insights to the team, as his champion selection was well-suited for the current game meta. Demonstrating adaptability, he mastered five distinct champions – Kai’Sa, Xayah, Ezreal, Jinx, and Caitlyn – in five separate games, winning four of them. His exceptional play during the Telecom War versus KT Rolster was a game-changer, earning him the Player of the Match recognition, showcasing his potential to thrive at the LCK level.

Fan backlash over lack of communication

Although Smash played exceptionally well, T1 fans were disappointed by the lack of openness about Gumayusi being benched. Many voiced their criticism towards the organization for not disclosing the decision in advance, sharing their unhappiness on T1’s Instagram, Facebook, and X (previously Twitter).

In the thrilling world of League of Legends Challengers Korea (LCK), swaps among players aren’t unusual events. Just recently, DRX Academy’s player LazyFeel filled in for Teddy due to health issues. To keep their fans informed, DRX made it a point to announce this decision transparently on social media and through the LCK prior to the match.

Instead, Team 1 (T1) did not publicly declare any changes in their lineup, causing fans to learn about it during the January 24th game against KT. Even the LCK commentators could only provide ambiguous explanations. This left many fans feeling frustrated and upset, leading them to express their dissatisfaction on social media platforms, alleging that the organization had mistreated Gumayusi and his dedicated fanbase. In South Korea, some supporters took additional steps by coordinating a protest truck to convey their grievances directly to T1’s headquarters.

Despite some fans voicing their dissatisfaction, others considered the substitution as a strategic decision. They believe that testing out the team composition early in the season might advantage T1 in the long term. A promising player named Smash, who garnered recognition from Rekkles during his time at T1 Academy, is believed to adapt smoothly to the current game dynamics.

Some spectators suggested that taking a break from regular competition could benefit player Gumayusi. This respite would allow him more time to analyze the evolving game dynamics and recuperate from the intense competitive grind. In the past, T1 has had to call upon temporary replacements, like Poby and Guwon stepping in for Faker and Oner due to health complications. By giving Smash playing time on a larger stage, T1 can develop a reliable backup player who could step in during emergencies.

T1 responded to fans outrage

In a post-game interview held on January 24th, T1’s head coach, Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun, shared his thoughts and explained the reasoning behind their recent choice.

As the lengthy League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) regular season remains, we are utilizing the LCK Cup to test strategies and accumulate valuable information. To be honest, when I ponder over events like the roster announcement, for instance, it wasn’t entirely clear what insights we should draw from them.

– kkOma via 2025 LCK Cup post match interview against KT Rolster, Jan. 24

I, too, recently opened up about my situation being on the bench via a post on my official fan page. I wanted to address the worry in the hearts of my supporters and assure you all that I am fully committed to personal growth.

I understand that today’s news might have caught many of you off guard and left some feelings of shock or disappointment. Believe me, it had the same effect on me when I first learned about it. However, this is one of those situations that can happen to anyone, and I believe we should view it as an opportunity for growth and renewal.

Over the past three years, I have put in a great deal of effort to maintain our current position, and taking a break feels strange. But as I’ve always said, if you place your trust in me and remain patient, I will return stronger than ever before. Thank you for your continued support.

– Gumayusi via T1 fan account

From what we gather, it appears that the roster adjustments for Team T1 might take more time than previously assumed. With Smash demonstrating potential and Gumayusi being resolute about making a comeback with renewed strength, Team T1 seems poised to maintain its competitive edge in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), suggesting a bright future for the team.

Supporters eagerly anticipate that T1 will tackle the issues related to communication, all the while strengthening their base for the season, with the goal of being fully prepared as they strive towards a third successive World Championship victory.

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2025-01-28 06:11

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