Zeus’s Departure from T1 Linked to a Minor Negotiation Error

Following sharp criticism from Joe Marsh, the player agency representing Zeus, known as The Play, provided their perspective on the recent off-season negotiation saga. It appears that mere minutes could have determined whether Zeus would continue his tenure with T1 or switch to another team.

The circumstances surrounding Zeus’s departure from T1 have been tumultuous, marked by a public dispute between the organization and the star top laner’s agency regarding the specifics of the situation. Each party has presented their narrative, with T1’s CEO asserting that The Play was not forthcoming about the contractual terms during negotiations. In contrast, Marsh emphasized his willingness to retain Zeus, even offering the most lucrative salary permissible within the LCK framework.

A Nail-Biting Decision: Zeus Chooses HLE Over T1

The Play contends that Hanwha Life Esports imposed a crucial deadline: Zeus had to sign with their organization by 3 PM on November 19, or he would be barred from joining HLE altogether. This claim was swiftly disputed by Marsh, who communicated directly with Hanwha and confirmed that no such time constraint existed.

Nonetheless, The Play decided to wait until 3:30 PM to formalize the signing, intending to allow T1 an opportunity to present a counteroffer. Regrettably, no offer came through during that interval, prompting the agency to move forward with the HLE agreement.

Interestingly, while this delay occurred, T1 representatives were en route for an in-person meeting with Zeus, arriving only after 4 PM.

Zeus at MSI 2023 — Photo credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

The agency detailed the events leading up to this moment, stating, “The 3 PM deadline was initially established by Hanwha Life Esports to streamline their free agency planning, contingent on Zeus’s decision. Since Zeus was inclined to remain at T1, we respectfully requested a brief extension, which allowed us to negotiate until 3:30 PM.”

They further elaborated, “Unbeknownst to us, COO Ahn Woong-ki was on his way to meet Zeus in person. If T1 had accepted our contract terms via phone by 3:30 PM, Zeus would have very likely opted to stay with T1. However, they did not reach an agreement while en route.”

This miscommunication—or potentially even a lapse in timing—could have been the critical factor that influenced Zeus’s decision. The Play summarized the situation by noting, “In an environment where negotiations are fleeting, players often reach swift conclusions, not due to a premeditated desire to leave, but because of the pressing nature of the free agency market.”

Consequently, Zeus’s transition was set in motion. Had T1 acted promptly or had The Play delayed their signing, the outcome might have been altogether different—at least according to the narrative from the agency.

The persistence voiced by T1 regarding their intent to retain Zeus illustrates their commitment to keep him, despite having Doran as an alternative. Ultimately, whether this small timing issue stemmed from miscommunication or intentional misunderstanding, as alleged by Marsh, remains in question.

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