T1 – Gumayusi: The Controversy Just Before the Spotlight
In the ongoing drama surrounding T1 and Gumayusi, it can be said that the 2002-born support player has emerged as the “main character” in this saga, clearly taking center stage. T1 itself acknowledged the hard choice made by Gumayusi to prioritize “practicing scrims” over “ranking up.” Everyone understands why Gumayusi made this choice. Initially, Gumayusi was given a basic ban due to training.
Furthermore, the T1 CEO emphasized, “Gumayusi has to compete and prove himself to secure a place.” However, it appears that this statement has garnered mixed reactions, especially since this is Gumayusi, a player who has received both positive and negative feedback.
If we look back at any legendary or superstar player in the support role, like Bang or Ruler, there are certainly questions posed to the T1 CEO: Why does a support player with two consecutive championship titles at Worlds have to prove himself, while a team ranked in the top 4 Challengers isn’t heard discussing the need to perform better?
Moreover, it is evident that doubts linger about Gumayusi’s capacity to handle the pressure of high-stakes situations. There have been plenty of opinions claiming that “Gumayusi trains poorly, which is why he was replaced.” Even T1’s coaching staff have acknowledged that Gumayusi was unable to train during the Smash period. However, with a large portion of the audience, the reality is that if something has been established as a fact, it will remain so, although Gumayusi has firmly stated that he is no longer in that situation.
T1 – Smash: Long-term Consequences
Initially, Smash might just have benefited from this drama if the images/clips depicting his demeanor with teammates weren’t authentic. Additionally, by replacing Gumayusi, Smash finds himself in a position of heightened scrutiny as this is a decision made by both the coaching staff and the management. However, he is currently also a target of criticism, not unlike Gumayusi. The only difference is that this player is merely a rookie in the LCK this year.
Immediately, during the early stages of his official career with the team, some anti-fans even sent gifts to Smash and T1 management. One could say that instead of observing Smash’s career path independently, many people use it to “diminish” Gumayusi or manifest their hatred for this team.
However, these actions, while seemingly supportive of Smash, have resulted in an environment where this player is virtually isolated from any genuine fan base. Meanwhile, T1 benefits (from merchandise related to Smash that these “fans” purchase), while the anti-fans of Gumayusi find ways to show their “network of violence” overshadowing the legitimate support for him.
And this situation is not good for Smash’s growth. No one knows when Gumayusi will truly leave T1, and whether Smash will still have enthusiastic support or not, or if he will become a “second Gumayusi.” But the worst-case scenario is if T1 decides to rotate him with the 2002-born support player and T1’s performances dwindle this season.
