T1 stirs controversy with the decision to replace Oner, as fans recall the "smash precedent" of Gumayusi

The surprising decision to substitute young player Painter for Oner in the important game against HLE has sparked divided opinions. Quite a few supporters are associating this incident with the Gumayusi-Smash controversy that previously stirred up internal discord.

T1 unexpectedly benches Oner before facing HLE

Just before the clash with HLE, T1 surprised the LoL community by fielding rookie jungler Painter in place of Oner.

If this experiment had occurred early in the season or against a lower-tier opponent, the coaching staff's decision might not have sparked so much debate. However, HLE is a direct rival to T1 in the standings race LCK 2026, and they are also the MSI champions.

Notably, this substitution happened when Rounds 3-4 were only about two weeks away and T1 had been on a positive streak. Ultimately, the team suffered a defeat against HLE, further questioning the personnel choice.

The jungle role is especially critical in the current meta. For T1, the synergy between Oner and Faker has been built over a long time, from objective control to teamfight coordination. Changing this link at the sprint stage carries significant risks.

Fans recall the Gumayusi story

On forums, a portion of fans quickly linked this decision to the case of Gumayusi from last season.

Back then, T1's veteran ADC was benched after just a few early-season matches, and Smash was chosen as his replacement. That decision sparked a prolonged debate, even putting both Gumayusi and Smash under constant pressure whenever their performance fell short of expectations.

Painter now faces a similar risk. A young player thrown into a match against a strong opponent like HLE could face immense pressure if results are unfavorable, even though the responsibility doesn't fully rest on his shoulders.

T1 puts itself in a tough spot

After the match, Coach Tom has not yet confirmed whether Painter will continue to be used or if Oner will return to the starting lineup.

This is also a difficult puzzle for T1. If they continue with Painter, the pressure to perform will grow as the season enters its decisive phase. Conversely, if they quickly bring Oner back, the recent experiment might be seen as a poorly thought-out decision.

In the context of the heated LCK 2026 race, any personnel changes by T1 could directly affect their end-of-season goals. And given what happened with Gumayusi, fans clearly have reason to pay close attention to how the team handles the Painter situation.