T1 explains decision to bench Gumayusi for Smash in LCK Cup 2025
T1 will have a month to decide if Smash stays or if Gumayusi keeps his place.
T1 , the most decorated team in League of Legends (LoL) history, made a controversial roster change at the start of the 2025 season by benching their long-time ADC, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, in favour of Sin “Smash” Geum-jae for most of the LoL Champions Korea (LCK) Cup.
This decision, announced just before the team’s second-week matches, left many fans questioning the reasoning behind it. Gumayusi had been a key figure in T1 ’s success, playing an instrumental role in the renowned “ZOFGK” lineup that reached three consecutive Worlds Finals and secured back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. However, T1 failed to keep the legendary roster together after former top laner Choi “Zeus” Woo-je suddenly left the team for Hanwha Life Esports .
Why was Gumayusi benched?
Following T1 ’s early exit from the LCK Cup 2025 Playoffs, which also meant missing the first international event of the season, LoL First Stand, the organisation’s general manager, Jeong “Becker” Hoi-yoon, addressed the situation on a livestream on Friday (14 February).
Becker explained that with the LCK Cup's new format, the tournament no longer impacted qualification for Worlds, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to experiment with the roster.
“With the season starting off in a different way and while preparing for the first match of the LCK Cup, the coaching staff made a request for change in the player lineup,” Becker said. “It seemed like the right time to try new things during the LCK Cup since the risks would be lower.”
He clarified that the decision to sub in Smash was made after the first week of play, rather than being a last-minute switch, despite T1 only announcing it 90 minutes before their second-week match.
On whether Gumayusi was still practising with the team, Becker confirmed that while he had full access to T1 ’s facilities and could watch scrims, he was not actively participating in them. Smash had taken over as the starting ADC even in practice sessions.
Becker stressed that he remained neutral in determining the team’s starter, saying that head coach Kim "kkOma" Jeong-gyun ultimately made the call.
“I empathise with Gumayusi on this situation and continue to motivate him, while also congratulating Smash for making his debut during the LCK Cup and supporting him as he looks toward his future,” he said. “I believe we are witnessing a process where a player who contributed to T1 ’s glorious legacy and a player who has a bright future with just debuting in the LCK are fiercely competing for the team’s present goals.”
Becker also addressed the backlash from fans, revealing that the team is pursuing lawsuits and criminal charges against individuals who have made threats toward the organisation.
Regarding fan engagement, he confirmed that both Gumayusi and Smash would officially be part of T1 for the next split, though it remains uncertain who will start.
“Once Smash is officially part of the LCK roster, we will provide the content that fans have been eagerly waiting for through T1 ’s official channels. It goes without saying, but we also plan to continue providing spaces and services for Gumayusi to communicate and interact with fans as a T1 player.”
He explained that Smash had not yet appeared in livestreams or fan content because his contract required modifications. Since T1 initially expected him to have only a temporary role, they delayed the changes. Now, with plans to integrate him fully, they will proceed with those adjustments.
With no matches scheduled for over a month, T1 have some breathing room to assess their options and determine the best course of action for the second split of the season. Fans will have to wait and see how the team navigates this transition and whether Gumayusi will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup.
