by in
T1 CEO Joe Marsh’s decision to reinstate Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong as the team’s starting ADC has reignited debate within the League of Legends community, raising questions about the balance of power between an esports organisation’s leadership, coaching staff, and fans.
Gumayusi, a two-time World Champion, was unexpectedly benched in favour of academy prospect Sin “Smash” Geum-jae during the 2025 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Cup.
This move, seemingly made by T1’s coaching staff led by head coach Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun and general manager Jeong “Becker” Hoi-yoon, took fans by surprise.
The lack of communication around the decision only fueled outrage, with supporters feeling blindsided by the sudden substitution of a beloved player.
Smash performed well in his LCK Cup debut, securing a victory against rivals KT Rolster and helping T1 reach the later stages of the tournament before falling to Hanwha Life Esports.
Despite his strong showing, many fans remained loyal to Gumayusi, questioning why the organisation would sideline a player with such an illustrious track record.
The situation escalated when a fan meetup, originally announced to feature T1’s starting lineup, was altered at the last minute to include only active players.
This led to frustration among those who had hoped to see Gumayusi, with some accusing T1 of mishandling the transition.
— T1 LoL (@T1LoL) March 19, 2025
Following the backlash, T1 took to social media to announce that Gumayusi would return as the starting ADC when the 2025 LCK season kicks off on April 2.
However, what made this announcement particularly striking was that it came directly from CEO Joe Marsh, who revealed that he personally requested the change after discussions with the coaching staff.
“I have complete trust in ‘Becker,’ ‘kkOma,’ and the coaching staff,” Marsh stated.
“After extensive conversations with them, I have requested that ‘Gumayusi’ be part of the starting lineup, and as a result, he will be starting when the regular season begins.”
The wording of this statement suggests that the coaching staff had initially planned to keep Smash in the starting lineup but ultimately yielded to Marsh’s request.
This revelation has led to speculation that the decision was made less on performance and more on external pressure—whether from fans, sponsors, or internal team politics.
While T1 maintains that both Gumayusi and Smash will compete for the starting role throughout the season, the CEO’s involvement has cast doubt on whether the coaching staff still has full control over roster decisions.
With Gumayusi back in the starting lineup, all eyes will be on his performance when T1 takes the stage against DRX on April 4.
If he delivers, the controversy may quickly fade.
But if struggles arise, the debate over T1’s roster decisions will only intensify.
Meanwhile, Smash remains on the main roster, continuing to push for his chance.
Whether he eventually earns the starting role or remains a backup will ultimately be decided by his performance and the coaching staff’s willingness to make future changes—assuming, of course, they are allowed to.
