Fnatic drop Humanoid, sign T1 Academy mid laner Poby

After a disappointing start to the League of Legends season, Fnatic have decided to shake things up and reportedly reached a verbal agreement with a new mid laner, Yun “Poby” Sung-won.

The T1 Esports Academy player is set to replace Fnatic’s core member, Marek “Humanoid” Brázda, in one of the most unexpected roster changes of the year.

The decision comes after the two-time LoL EMEA Championship (LEC) champion failed to meet expectations and help Fnatic reach new heights.

While Humanoid was considered one of Europe’s top players in his role, he was frequently targeted by criticism from the fans for failing to perform in high-pressure games.

The Czech player’s shortcomings resulted in Fnatic continuing to endure their dry spell in the LEC and international events, failing to hoist a trophy for the seventh year running.

While Humanoid’s departure seemed inevitable, his replacement is a surprise.

Even though Fnatic can access a stacked field of mid laners from the European Regional Leagues (ERLs), the Black & Orange opted for a Korean import.

The 19-year-old started his career in 2021 and has since remained in the T1 LoL esports system, competing for T1 Academy in the LCK Challengers League (LCK CL).

Poby also had a chance to test his skills in the Korean top flight in 2023, when he served as a replacement for T1’s star player, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, who was out with an arm injury.

During his short stint in the LCK, Poby played 18 games but recorded just four wins.

Poby’s poor result in the LCK would not be the main reason for the community questioning Fnatic’s decision to sign him had he been a standout performer in the LCK CL. However, the young mid-laner has yet to win the second-tier trophy.

His most notable placement came earlier this year – a runner-up finish at LCK CL Kickoff 2025.

With Poby’s arrival, Fnatic will make their first change to their LoL roster since the addition of ADC Elias “Upset” Lipp and support Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle before the 2025 season.

More changes have yet to be confirmed but are unlikely to happen, with the Spanish duo, top laner Óscar “Oscarinin” Muñoz and jungler Iván “Razork” Martín, likely keeping their spot on the roster.