Recently, T1’s decision to bench their star ADC, Gumayusi, in favor of the rookie Smash has been met with mixed reactions from fans. After weeks of ambiguity regarding the reasoning behind this move, team manager Becker has finally shed some light on the situation. Unfortunately, this revelation came only after T1’s elimination from qualifying for the First Stand, a new international League of Legends event that marks the start of the competitive year. It’s important to note that this outcome was partially due to the newly implemented LCK format that placed T1 at a significant disadvantage.
The decision to replace a well-regarded player like Gumayusi has indeed sparked debate among T1 supporters, especially following the departure of another beloved player, Zeus. Fans have been vocal about their desire for explanations regarding why the talented world champion ADC found himself sidelined during the initial split of 2025.
T1 Management Addresses the Bench Decision
Smash’s role as T1’s primary ADC for an extended period has placed the organization in a challenging position. Notably, the challenges faced by other teams, such as the inability of LazyFeel to return to DN Freecs after a temporary call-up, demonstrate the potential complications of keeping a player promoted from the LCK Challengers League for too long. Although regulations for the forthcoming LCK split are different, T1 was acutely aware of the risks associated with holding Smash on the roster.
The underlying cause of the benching, as articulated by Becker during a recent livestream, stems from the restructured format of the LCK Cup. He clarified that the outcome of this first split would not impact T1’s chances of reaching Worlds, leading the coaching staff to assess that a lineup change would be beneficial. Becker stated, “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.” The intent behind this decision was to minimize risk while exploring new strategies during this early phase of the season.
T1’s LoL team benched 2x World Champion Gumayusi to give rookie player Smash his LCK debut. Smash has gone on to have one of the best rookie debuts in the league’s history pic.twitter.com/UfCV3MYQQE
— dexerto (@dexerto) February 1, 2025
Becker further revealed that the substitution of Smash was a decision made shortly after the first week in the LCK Cup, countering any impressions that it was a sudden change. He mentioned that despite concerns, Gumayusi has remained involved, with full access to T1’s facilities and the opportunity to review practice games, though he is no longer participating in scrims.
Emphasizing fairness in the selection process, Becker noted that the decision to start Smash over Gumayusi was guided by coach kKoma’s strategy rather than personal bias. He expressed empathy towards Gumayusi while also congratulating Smash on his successful debut.“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 are fiercely competing for the team’s present goals, ” he stated.
On a more serious note, Becker addressed the issue of harsh comments directed at the organization, indicating that T1 is pursuing legal action against individuals making threats against the team.
Gumayusi reviewing game footage with T1 following a match against Nongshim RedForce.
As for the future lineup, Becker assured fans that both Gumayusi and Smash would be integral parts of T1 in the upcoming split, although it remains uncertain who will take the starting position. There are hints of “unexpected variables” that might influence this decision as the team prepares not to compete on the main stage for over a month, giving them ample time to finalize their strategy going into the second split of the year.
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