June 21, professional esports team T1 held a press conference to address a number of controversies that had recently surrounded the organization. During the event, Chief Operating Officer Woong-ki Ahn spoke candidly about several key issues that had drawn fans’ attention — including misunderstandings surrounding the transfer of Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, speculation over the starting lineup rivalry between Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung and Shin “Smash” Geum-jae, and even accusations of media suppression.

Zeus Transfer Dispute: Root Cause Was Conflict with Agency 'ThePlay'

▲ "Zeus" Woo-je Choi, now with Hanwha Life Esports after leaving T1

One of the key topics at T1’s press conference was the controversy surrounding Choi “Zeus” Woo-je’s transfer to Hanwha Life Esports during the last offseason.COO Woong-ki Ahn expressed his continued gratitude toward Zeus and sincerely wished him the best. He acknowledged that T1 had mishandled parts of the transfer process and apologized for the emotional distress it may have caused the player.

Ahn clarified that the core issue did not lie with Choi himself, but rather with his agency, ThePlay. He noted that ThePlay’s negotiation style differed significantly from that of other agencies, and that T1 had received no counteroffers prior to the start of free agency. Although a meeting had been scheduled for 10 a.m. on November 19 at T1 headquarters, ThePlay failed to attend. Ahn added that after a series of phone negotiations, T1 believed an agreement had been reached—only to be abruptly notified of Zeus’s transfer to Hanwha Life Esports.

Addressing rumors of a pay cut, Ahn firmly denied the claims, stating, “Not a single won was reduced—there was absolutely no salary cut based on total compensation.” He explained that the offer included a base salary and easily attainable incentives, and that the structure was an unavoidable adjustment under the newly implemented LCK Sporting Financial Regulations. Regarding the debate over whether there was a set deadline in the transfer talks, Ahn attributed the confusion to a communication error and promised more deliberate communication going forward.

Gumayusi vs. Smash Starting Spot Debate: “Final Decision Was Up to the Coaching Staff”

▲ Gumayusi and Smash, who vied for the starting spot

T1 also addressed the heated early-season debate over the starting AD carry position between Gumayusi and Smash. COO Woong-ki Ahn began by apologizing to both players and fans for the stress caused by roster instability. He cited three key factors behind the competition for the starting spot: first, shifts in draft dynamics following the introduction of the fearless draft system; second, the team’s need to adapt to a new roster after the addition of top laner Doran; and third, a noticeable dip in Gumayusi’s performance during that transition period.

Ahn remarked, “Both players are exceptional talents, and the competition for the starting role was both a fortunate and difficult dilemma.” He noted that Smash was given his opportunity based on his strong performances in the Challengers (second-tier) league. With the LCK now operating under a unified roster system for both first and second teams, Ahn explained that T1 had greater flexibility in rotating players. He added that the current lineup was finalized through a series of matches and scrims.

In response to speculation surrounding CEO Joe Marsh’s involvement in the starting lineup decision, Ahn clarified that “the final decision rested entirely with the coaching staff.” While Marsh had initially requested that Gumayusi be given the starting role, the coaching staff maintained full veto authority. Ahn emphasized that the final call was made after extensive discussions between coaches and management. He added that the official statement was released under Marsh’s name because the CEO wanted to take responsibility for initiating the request.

Regarding concerns about fairness in scrim opportunities, Ahn stated that disclosing scrim details would pose a strategic risk. Nonetheless, he stressed that fairness between the two players remained a consistent topic of internal discussion, and that great effort was made to ensure a balanced and transparent selection process.

T1 Vows Better Fan Communication and Player Protection

 ▲ Woong-ki Ahn, COO of T1 Esports

During the press conference, T1 acknowledged its shortcomings in communicating with fans and issued a public apology. COO Woong-ki Ahn  bowed his head and said, “We failed to properly communicate with fans regarding roster decisions and the starting lineup situation. Our communication was immature and led to unnecessary misunderstandings. We sincerely apologize.” He pledged that moving forward, the team would prioritize honest and transparent communication, regardless of any future uncertainties.

Ahn also reaffirmed T1’s zero-tolerance policy toward malicious comments and defamatory content directed at its players. He stated that the organization is actively working to protect its players through various measures, including ongoing legal action, and emphasized that penalties would be enforced without leniency. T1 added that it is prepared to take firm action against certain online communities if necessary.

The press conference lasted approximately four and a half hours, beginning at 2 p.m. and concluding around 6:30 p.m. T1 expressed its commitment to rebuilding trust with fans through improved communication and greater transparency, and stated that it would continue focusing on fostering a stable team environment moving forward.