From trainee to the World’s finest ADC

T1 has parted methods with a key determine simply days after securing a historic third consecutive League of Legends World Championship and Finals MVP. Within the years since becoming a member of T1, Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong grew to become central to the group’s evolution throughout home and worldwide competitors. His rise to one of the crucial adorned ADCs of LoL Esports’ historical past was not speedy, however his consistency and presence have been essential in elevating T1’s aggressive id. 

All through the years, T1 has confronted immense stress to succeed. Gumayusi contributed by means of constant efficiency, forming a core along with his longtime assist Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, jungler Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun, and mid-laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. 

Gumayusi’s trajectory indicated a participant able to reshaping metas and sustaining an prolonged presence on the highest degree of play — much more so when paired with Keria. And over time, the bot lane duo influenced how groups outlined the bot lane setting, within the LCK and in world competitions. Their chemistry grew to become a signature ingredient of T1’s reemergence as a Championship-calibre roster.

In his documentary, Gumayusi revealed that his older brother impressed him to begin enjoying League of Legends, and it was throughout his first yr of center college that he realised he needed to go professional. In 2017, he reached Challenger rank in solo queue, and one yr later, he joined T1 — then nonetheless working below the title SK Telecom T1 — as a trainee, after the organisation noticed him as a younger expertise with long-term potential.

As soon as inside T1’s system, he wasn’t instantly thrust into the highlight as he joined the principle roster in its place. However Gumayusi’s long-awaited debut got here in September 2020, not in a low-stakes match, however in a must-win LCK Regional Finals collection. He changed veteran bot-laner Park “Teddy” Jin-seong and helped T1 take a commanding 3–1 victory over Afreeca Freecs.

His debut win demonstrated his capability to carry out in high-pressure conditions, and over time, constant laning, positioning, and goal management made him a key element of T1’s methods by 2022.

The 2022 season introduced his first World Championship look, in addition to T1’s first Worlds Finals because the organisation’s rebranding. Although T1 misplaced the championship that yr to DRX’s Cinderella story, the occasion was a benchmark for Gumayusi. However that loss didn’t halt T1’s progress; it as a substitute marked the beginning of a brand new period, the group’s domination of the Worlds’ stage.

After a robust begin to the season, T1 and Gumayusi constantly ranked close to the highest of the LCK in 2023, putting within the high three at MSI, however they frequently fell in need of a title. Nonetheless, the outcomes have been sufficient to earn the group sufficient Championship Factors to qualify for Worlds, setting the stage for his or her eventual run to the 2023 Championship.

The 2023 Worlds win in Seoul was a turning level for Gumayusi. It was not simply his first World title, but additionally his affirmation as a world-class carry. Over subsequent seasons, he and Keria developed into one of the crucial feared bot-lane duos within the league — their chemistry, decision-making, and scaling changing into foundational to T1’s methods.

T1 entered 2024 with renewed expectations after its 2023 World Championship run, and the group maintained sturdy home kind all year long. They remained close to the highest of the LCK standings, returned to the Spring Remaining, and reached the highest 4 at MSI — a stable worldwide consequence that also fell in need of a title. The group’s consistency throughout each splits secured one other direct qualification to Worlds.

On the 2024 World Championship, T1 regarded to defend its title, and the group delivered one other deep run that reaffirmed its standing as one of many strongest rosters on the earth — the ‘ZOFGK’ period.

Nonetheless, that period was coming to an finish because the 2025 season started with a serious change for T1, following the group’s high laner, Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, who left throughout the offseason. The group spent the primary months trying to find stability within the high lane, and the changes affected coordination throughout the map. T1 slipped out of the higher finish of the LCK standings for the primary time in a number of years, and the outcomes throughout Spring and Summer season Splits didn’t present a transparent path to one more Worlds trophy.

The yr additionally introduced a troublesome second for Gumayusi. Earlier within the season, he was benched in favour of Sin “Smash” Geum-jae, a call that led to backlash, which prompted T1’s CEO, Joe Marsh, to return Gumayusi to the beginning lineup. The change settled the bot lane, nevertheless it didn’t resolve the broader points the group confronted in-game.

Moreover, the scale and depth of T1’s fanbase has at instances turned in opposition to Gumayusi — and different T1 members — leading to harassment, on-line assaults, and coordinated protests throughout 2025. The stress from fixed scrutiny and public backlash added a major psychological and emotional burden on the gamers, forcing them to carry out below heightened stress each on and off the stage.

As Worlds approached, T1 discovered themselves getting into the Play-Ins stage and making ready to face Invictus Gaming, a state of affairs far faraway from its earlier years. Match after match at Worlds 2025, Gumayusi maintained constant injury output, managed group fights, and supplied important late-game carries. And when most LoL Esports’ followers had counted T1 out, the group reached a brand new peak with a 3rd consecutive World Championship win. 

Within the last, T1 edged out KT Rolster 3–2 in a tense comeback to say a historic three-peat. For his efficiency, Gumayusi was awarded the Finals MVP, changing into the primary ADC to win the award since Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk in 2017. 

T1 introduced Gumayusi’s departure somewhat over per week after the 2025 World Championship win. The organisation acknowledged the trophies, the years of contribution, and the affect he had on the group’s period of sustained worldwide success. The separation concluded a run that included a number of LCK titles, three World Championships, and one Finals MVP for Gumayusi.

T1 now faces the problem of integrating a brand new construction with out a participant who participated in almost each main second of the group’s final half-decade.

For Gumayusi, the departure opens a brand new stage. He leaves T1 at his peak, with the momentum of an MVP-winning season behind him. As he shifts to a brand new organisation, his path mirrors that of Choi “Zeus” Woo-je the earlier yr. Zeus moved to a different group and have become one of many main threats to T1’s dominance. Gumayusi has the aggressive profile to provide an analogous impact on the worldwide stage.

His subsequent vacation spot will reshape the sector across the 2026 aggressive season. If he joins a robust lineup, he might straight problem T1’s pursuit of one other title run. The construction he helped construct might change into the barrier he now tries to surpass. The tip of 1 period turns into the origin level for the following, and his profession continues towards one other landmark season.