Gumayusi returns to T1 line-up after CEO intervention

League of Legends participant Lee ‘Gumayusi‘ Min-hyung is re-instated into T1‘s line-up after CEO Joe Marsh overruled a training workers determination.

This follows shortly after his introduced benching in favour of academy begin up Sin ‘Smash’ Guem-jae — a transfer that sparked backlash on-line.

Marsh launched a public assertion on X to T1 followers explaining the silence behind drastic roster modifications behind the scenes.

He mentioned: “I perceive a lot of you’ve gotten been annoyed by our silence relating to roster modifications and the potential for a six-man line-up. Please know that this was by no means out of disregard for our followers, however relatively as a result of ongoing inside discussions between administration and our teaching workers.”

Marsh then went on to clarify how teaching workers, together with common supervisor Jeong ‘Becker” Hoi-yoon and head coach Kim ‘kkOma’ Jeong-gyun, favoured Smash in mild of his latest efficiency.

“I’ve full belief in Becker, kkOma and the teaching workers,” Marsh mentioned, “and after in depth conversations with them, I’ve requested that Gumayusi be a part of the beginning line-up. And consequently, he can be beginning when the common season begins.

“This determination was not made frivolously. However as CEO, it’s my accountability to take a long-term view and make sure the greatest pursuits of T1.”

In the meanwhile, Gumayusi will stay in line-up firstly of the 2025 LCK season. Smash has not been written off simply but, as the 2 ‘can be competing in follow’ till the teaching workers resolve who stands ‘one of the best likelihood to win in the long term.’

Marsh mentioned: “I imagine he has earned the proper to show himself as soon as once more as one of many world’s greatest BOT (backside laner). I as soon as mentioned that Gumayusi bled black and pink, and I meant that. He has been extremely loyal to T1, and that is my method of honouring that loyalty.”

Gumayusi was changed by Smash throughout the 2025 LCK Spring Break up, which got here as a shock to each himself and very long time T1 followers.

In a tough translation of a remark made on X, he mentioned: “Hello my treasured followers, my long-time followers. You need to’ve been shocked, thrown off, and unhappy after listening to the information. I felt the identical method once I first heard about it, however this sort of factor can occur to and happen for anybody.

“In order I slowly appeared again on my state of affairs, I got here to consider it as a possibility to develop even additional. It’s a place that I labored arduous in and guarded for 3 years.

“So though my absence would possibly really feel awkward, in the event you proceed to imagine in me and watch for me as you’ve gotten executed, I’ll come again with a good cooler model of myself. Thanks as all the time.”

Followers have been upset for numerous causes. Gumayusi has accrued a loyal fanbase inside T1 as a two time world champion, and whereas Smash has proven nice promise and potential in LCK, the change puzzled many followers.

The shortage of communication additionally rubbed some followers the fallacious method, annoyed {that a} long-time participant for the esports organisation was merely dropped with out warning.

Marsh mentioned: “The choice was made that he [Smash] will stay on our LCK roster for the season. We’re assured in his progress and imagine he has the potential to turn into an distinctive participant.

“And identical to the opposite important roster gamers, he’ll start speaking straight with the followers by means of T1 Membership, T1 POP and reside stream beginning March twenty fourth.”

Followers are anticipating who T1 will select on the finish of all of it; to stay with a former world champion doubtlessly previous his prime, or take the gamble on a promising rookie who has demonstrated potential.

Some are satisfied that the delay by the CEO is solely delaying the inevitable, satisfied that the teaching workers could stick with their authentic determination and are counting down the times.

Following T1’s 2-1 win over KT Roster in LCk Cup, kkOma mentioned: “With the LCK season nonetheless lengthy, we wish to experiment within the LCK Cup to collect as a lot information as attainable.

“That is his first match and we are going to proceed to watch his progress. He’ll face a number of stress, but when he retains taking part in like right this moment, I’ve excessive hopes for him.”