T1 adjusts the lineup: Smash replaces Gumayusi in the starting lineup, can the new AD bring new changes?

On January 30, T1 Club recently announced a major adjustment, deciding to temporarily replace the original starting AD Gumayusi as a substitute and use the 18 -year-old rookie Smash as the starting AD . This decision quickly attracted widespread attention and discussion from the outside world. After all, As T1 's double-crown AD , Gumayusi has always been considered one of the top bottom lane players in LCK .

Since his debut, Gumayusi has been known for his outstanding laning ability and late-stage teamfight performance. During the 2022 World Finals, his heroes such as Aphelios and Jinx became the core of T1's offensive system, helping the team gain advantages many times. However, as the versions changed, Gumayusi's hero pool problem gradually exposed. His performance on rhythm ADs such as Ezreal, Zeli, and Kaisa was not stable enough, causing T1 to fall into a passive position in the BP phase. In addition, his Although Xia performs well in certain versions, she often becomes the target of concentrated fire from opponents due to her aggressive positioning and easy sudden death.

In the 2024 season, T1 gradually adjusted its tactical thinking and reduced the resources tilted towards the bottom lane, hoping that Gumayusi could complete the laning task independently with less support. However, this adjustment made Gumayusi struggle more in the game, and his hero This choice limits the team's overall operations, especially after the addition of new resources such as Broodlings and Initiative, T1 needs more flexible AD players to adapt to the frequent team battle rhythm.

Compared with Gumayusi , Smash 's hero pool is more suitable for the current version. He is good at using heroes with higher mobility such as Ezreal, Zeli, and Kaisa, which are the mainstream choices in the 2025 season. In addition, Smash is Players trained by T1's youth training system are more familiar with the team's tactical system and can quickly integrate into the team's rhythm. After T1 's top laner Zeus left the team and Doran joined, the team's overall playing style has also changed. The tactics that relied on Zeus to back up the team have changed. No longer applicable, T1 needs an AD who is more adaptable and proactive , and Smash 's style fits this need perfectly.

T1 's adjustment does not mean that Gumayusi 's career has entered a period of decline, but more like a tactical rotation. On the one hand, Gumayusi 's contract is only signed for one year, and T1 needs to be prepared for possible lineup changes in the future . On the other hand, Smash, as a potential player in the future of T1, needs to accumulate experience in actual combat. If he can prove himself in the game, T1 may consider letting him serve as the starting AD for a long time .

Of course, Gumayusi still has a chance to return to the starting lineup. He needs to adjust his hero pool during this period, improve his proficiency in heroes such as Ezreal, and adapt to a more independent game style. If he can perform well in training games and queuing, He has shown stronger adaptability in the middle position and still has the opportunity to compete for the starting position again in the future.

T1's adjustment is not only an adaptation to the current version, but also a layout for the future. Can Smash seize the opportunity and truly become T1 's long-term starting AD ? Can Gumayusi complete the transformation and return to the top? All this will be revealed in the upcoming game. The result will be revealed in the upcoming LCK games. In any case, T1 's goal is always to win the game, and this lineup adjustment may be an important step for them to move towards higher goals in the new season.