Hanwha Life and T1 coaches are both predicting 3-1 wins for their respective teams, Gen. G leans towards T1's victory for the finals spot
Esports stars Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong and Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, once one of the most iconic bottom-lane duos, will face off on opposite sides of the Rift this weekend with a spot in the LCK championship match on the line.
Having both joined T1 in 2020, the world-class League players spent 5 years cultivating a synergy that extended beyond standard gameplay mechanics, building an out-of-game dynamic so close that fans frequently likened them to a couple.
Now, that history takes a back seat as Gumayusi's new team Hanwha Life Esports and T1 prepare to clash on Saturday at Seoul’s Kspo Dome, where the winner will secure a place in Sunday’s League of Legends Championship Korea final against Gen.G.
The prospect of facing his former partner brings a mix of nostalgia and competitive fire for Gumayusi, who reflected on the void left by their parting. Late last year, shortly after T1 made history with its third consecutive World Championship title, he departed T1 in a high-profile move to HLE.
“When I played at T1, (Keria) helped me a lot with drafts and gameplay,” Gumayusi said during a press event held on Tuesday in Seoul.
“It’s a little disappointing that I can’t get that help anymore. On the other hand, I think it’s fun to face a bot lane that is really good. That makes it even more satisfying when you win.”
Keria echoed the respect, noting that Gumayusi’s impact on T1 went well beyond mechanics, though that familiarity with his former teammate's tendencies may now serve as a tactical weapon.
“(Gumayusi) helped the entire team in many ways, not just as a bot-lane duo,” Keria said. “He helped us maintain a healthy lifestyle, not just with things inside the game but outside of it as well.”
Recognizing the double-edged sword of their shared history, Keria added, “The strengths he showed when we were on the same team can be difficult to deal with now that we’re opponents."
“I know very well how (Gumayusi) approaches the game, and I think Hanwha Life plays similarly. If we can execute what we’ve prepared, from the draft through the game itself, I think we can win.”
Both teams enter the matchup confident in their chances. HLE coach Yoon Seong-young predicted a 3-1 victory, while T1 interim coach Lim Jae-hyun offered the same scoreline with T1 coming out ahead.
“I think our laning has become stronger with the addition of new players,” Yoon said, explaining his prediction.
“Our bottom lane duo has always performed strongly, so we have a lot of confidence in them. The top-side players are also continuing to improve their form, so I think we can win,” Lim said.
Gen.G coach Yoo Sang-wook, meanwhile, expects the outcome to depend in part on which team performs at its best on the day, though he sees a potential advantage for T1.
“I think their condition on the day will be important,” Yoo said. “Personally, I think T1 has a slightly higher chance of advancing if their bot lane performs well.”
yoonseo.3348@heraldcorp.com
