T1 Dominates KT Rolster With Roster Changes

T1’s League of Legends roster shuffle is not over yet as the organization has once again benched Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyeong, replacing him with Sin ‘Smash’ Geum-jae for its LCK match against KT Rolster. This latest move highlights T1’s ongoing six-man roster strategy, which has been a topic of much discussion among fans.

Smash was initially replaced by Gumayusi despite showcasing massive potential during the LCK Cup 2025, a change prompted by the intervention of T1’s CEO. According to the official announcement, this decision was made solely by the coaching staff to give Gumayusi time to reset and regain his form. “We’re sharing this now in hopes of alleviating the current confusion, which has unfortunately been shaped by a number of incorrect assumptions — some of which stemmed from our own lack of clarity,” T1 tweeted.

In a bid to minimize misunderstandings and prevent unintentional strategic disclosures, T1 also announced that moving forward, it will not publicly disclose roster changes in advance unless a player is sick or injured. “We hope our fans can understand and relate to the spirit behind this decision,” the organization stated.

The upcoming match against KT Rolster is particularly significant for T1’s legendary player, Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, as it marks his 1000th LCK game. Fans are eagerly anticipating this milestone, yet many express frustration over T1’s constant roster changes. One fan voiced their disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “At this point, the only reason I support T1 is because of its players, including the player you keep benching for every small mistake. This is truly disappointing from an esports team I supported with all my heart and believed in through all the controversies.”

On the opposing side, KT Rolster, still searching for their first victory in the LCK 2025 Regular Season, has decided to shake things up by replacing Lee ‘PerfecT’ Seung-min and Seo ‘deokdam’ Dae-gil with Shin ‘Casting’ Min-je and Park ‘Paduck’ Seok-hyeon, both of whom have been promoted from its Challengers roster.

As the match began, T1 showcased an impressive performance, dominating KT Rolster with perfect team play. From the first set, T1 established their dominance early on. Just 9 minutes into the game, Keria's Gragas successfully targeted Peter's Alista in the top lane, securing the first kill. Following this, Oner’s Vi and Faker’s Ari teamed up to take down Bdd’s Corki, gaining the early initiative.

With the lead firmly in their grasp, T1 continued to attack both the bottom and top lanes, racking up kills. KT Rolster attempted a surprise attack in the jungle, but Paduck’s Ezreal was caught off guard by Gragas’ ultimate ability, leading to a loss in the team fight. T1 capitalized on their growing gold lead and successfully blocked any attempts by KT to reverse the situation, destroying KT Rolster’s Nexus in a swift 24 minutes.

The second set saw T1 maintain their momentum, once again taking the early initiative. Smash’s Miss Fortune delivered a stunning double kill in the bottom lane, raising the atmosphere among T1 supporters. However, KT Rolster tried to counterattack by capturing Dorian’s Ambassador and Faker’s Victor during a top lane exchange and a dragon objective team fight, but they were unable to catch Miss Fortune.

Despite KT's attempts to turn the tide, T1 proved too strong. They successfully captured Bdd’s Talia and Cuzz’s Viego in a mid-lane exchange, securing the coveted Nashor buff. With the Nashor buff in hand, T1 pushed into the mid lane, ultimately sealing their victory and finishing the match.

This match not only highlighted T1's strategic prowess but also marked a historic moment for Faker, who reached the remarkable milestone of 1000 games in the LCK. As the esports community celebrates his achievements, the ongoing roster changes at T1 continue to stir debate among fans and analysts alike.

While T1’s victory over KT Rolster solidifies their position in the league, the question remains: can they maintain this level of performance while navigating the complexities of their roster strategy? As the LCK season progresses, all eyes will be on T1 to see how they balance their talent and tactics in pursuit of the championship.