Amidst the Drama, the “Chosen One” Has Transformed into a “Star Player”
According to recent updates shared by the CEO of T1, the ongoing controversy surrounding the team’s decision to replace Gumayusi has sparked significant debate across various social media platforms. The T1 coaching staff has chosen Smash to replace him, citing the team’s performance and the need for improvement as key reasons. However, it seems that the performance shown by Smash has been inconsistent, which raises questions about the decision made by the T1 CEO.
Initially, there were numerous fans shocked by Smash’s surprising selection due to his past performance metrics. This has led to discussions about KDA statistics that have been notably impressive, even surpassing players like Viper and Ruler, who contributed significantly in the LCK Cup 2025 finals. However, these statistics carry a caveat when examining Smash’s overall gameplay and do not necessarily qualify him as a “star player.”
Notably, his ability to secure kills and assist is significantly lower than that of Deokdam. Furthermore, despite having a small number of champions at his disposal, Smash’s damage per minute (DPM) has been underwhelming. He primarily “farmed” during matches, struggling to impact team fights effectively, which has often resulted in him being merely a presence in the game.
Moreover, even in T1’s winning matches, Smash’s performance remained underwhelming, particularly when using champions like Kai’Sa or Zeri. Notably, his champion pool, especially with Ezreal, has garnered a lot of criticism. His performance metrics have reflected a concerning 0% win rate in two crucial matches, indicating a lack of confidence from fans, especially against heavyweights like KT.
In addition, in a match against HLE, T1 managed to push to a fifth game, but their standout players were Faker and Oner in game four. The 50-50 odds that Oner had during intense moments were primarily what enabled T1 to prevail against HLE in crucial scenarios.
Now, Every Move Could Impact T1
It is evident that Smash’s performance, while described as “a breath of fresh air for the T1 coaching staff,” could very well be a double-edged sword for the team’s dynamics. As it stands, T1 has made its choice, and fans of this team must prepare for any potential scenarios that may unfold, rather than continuing the ongoing debates that seem inconclusive.
