T1 Reinvents the Bottom Lane as Gumayusi Returns for a Bold 2025 LCK Revival

T1 is currently navigating a challenging start to the 2025 edition of Korea’s League of Legends Champions tournament, despite recent successes on the world stage. The team’s unexpected sixth-place finish in the LCK Cup and subsequent absence from an international tournament have prompted an urgent reassessment of their strategy within Korean LoL esports.

The organization has taken decisive action by reinstating one of its prominent players into the main lineup. Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung is set to resume his role after previously being sidelined in favor of Sin “Smash” Guem-jae. This change comes following an intervention from the team’s chief executive, who emphasized the importance of fostering a stronger internal rivalry between the two talents "within the framework of a multi-year development strategy". Key points of the decision include:

• Acknowledgement of fan concerns over previous silence regarding roster modifications.
• Extensive internal consultations with leadership and coaching staff to determine the optimal path forward.
• An imperative to build a competitive environment in practice sessions, where both players will challenge each other.
• A commitment by the coaching team to ultimately select the player offering the best prospects for success as the season progresses.

The executive further elaborated on the strategic revamp, noting that the 2025 roster changes and the evolving game dynamics necessitate a transformation of the bottom lane role into a hyper-carry structure. There is strong confidence that Gumayusi will not only adapt to this new role but also reinforce his reputation among the elite players worldwide. His longstanding dedication to the team is being recognized through this decision, marking an opportunity to reestablish his status as one of the top competitors in his position.

How these adjustments will influence T1's prospects For the forthcoming season, it continues to be a focal point of discussion discussion among fans and analysts, as the team strives to return to its former glory in Korean League of Legends esports.