T1 coach Mata opened up about the immense pressure Gumayusi endured throughout the 2025 season in the LCK’s new Worlds documentary series. In “Four Sight EP.1,” released on the official LCK YouTube channel, Mata acknowledged the team placed extraordinarily high demands on their bot laner all year long.
“We asked so much of him,” Mata said in the documentary. He added that Gumayusi “probably had it tougher than anyone” but still “pushed through all of that and won it all.”
The comment hints at an unusually difficult internal environment for the star AD carry. While Mata didn’t detail specifics in the quoted segment, the season saw T1 make roster adjustments that included benching Gumayusi and bringing in substitute ADC Smash.
High-pressure seasons aren’t uncommon for top League organizations. But Mata’s framing suggests something beyond normal championship expectations.
Mata’s perspective matters here. As a former world champion support player and current coach at one of esports’ most demanding organizations, his assessment of player hardship carries weight.
T1 ultimately delivered on their championship goals in 2025. But Mata’s comments reveal the internal cost of that success for players.
