LoL - Worlds 2025: Gumayusi versus deokdam, from the bench to glory

This Sunday marks the conclusion of the 2025 League of Legends Worlds with a historic final showcasing one of the greatest rivalries in esports history: the reigning two-time world champions T1 facing off against KT Rolster. Ahead of the most significant Telecom War ever played, Sheep Esports is publishing a daily spotlight on the upcoming matchups. This Tuesday, our series kicks off with a look at the AD Carry duel between Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyung and Seo "deokdam" Dae-gil.

The two players are currently at the top of their game, but they have gone through tough times. If Gumayusi is therefore a two-time title holder, deokdam is returning to Worlds for only the second time in his career. If at first glance, everything opposes the two players, one criterion nevertheless unites them in their season.

Both players have experienced the bench due to decisions from their coaching staff, but that didn't stop them from giving their best to establish themselves as essential members of their teams.

Like for most of his teammates, it was difficult to predict that deokdam would turn out to be one of the best players at Worlds at the beginning of the season. In January, fans did not hide their disappointment at seeing him start as AD Carry for KT Rolster when Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan was available on the market. His start to the season doesn't prove the critics wrong either.

During the first part of the LCK Season, KT even decided to bench him and promote Park "Paduck" Seok-hyeon. A choice that would ultimately last only a few BO3s before deokdam returned. Little by little, the player had been coming back well and establishing himself as an undisputed starter in his position. If his teammate Gwak "Bdd" Bo-sung takes the spotlight within his team, deokdam's role on the carries should not be overlooked despite his tendency to get caught in important moments.

When the LCK playoffs came up, and deokdam and his team achieved a feat by qualifying for the Worlds by taking down the almost invincible Gen.G. In his role as a quiet carry, deokdam proves to be very effective in contributing to KT's success. While he continues to be underrated during Worlds, he is having an exceptional tournament, breezing through the Swiss stage without any trouble.

He announced at the end of his quarterfinal that he will take down Gen.G and "will have revenge for the tears" of his former teammate Han "Peanut" Wang-ho, taken down by Gen.G. He more than delivers, he absolutely outclasses Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk in his team's Dantean BO5. He, whose record is still almost blank, has the opportunity to win his first major title in the biggest of competitions. An opportunity that may not come again.

Double world champion with exceptional performances leading up to the final phase of Worlds, Gumayusi has nothing left to prove to anyone doubting his career. Yet, that doesn't stop T1's coaching staff from making a surprising decision at the start of the year. After only two BO3s in the LCK Cup, Gumayusi has been benched by T1 in favor of Sin "Smash" Guem-jae. The T1 academy prodigy reclaimed the spot and performed very well in it.

What is described at the beginning as a way to accumulate data turns into real competition between the two AD Carries. At the beginning of the LCK Season, the two players alternated BO3s to determine the best. As he himself said during the pre-match trailer between T1 and Top Esports: "It was a difficult time. On the other hand, Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok), the best player in the world, also had the same experience, so I tried hard to push that period." After a few games, Gumayusi reclaimed his rightful place and starts stringing together strong performances again.

Even though, for some fans, who won't hesitate to let him know in a rather inappropriate manner, he remains the weak link of the team, Gumayusi doesn't let it bother him and maintains a high level throughout the season. Despite him and his team remaining inferior to Gen.G for a large part of the season, when it comes to the Worlds, on T1's playground, the game changes. As usual, Gumayusi raises his level of play in important moments. He delivers a fantastic quarter-final performance against Anyone's Legends and allows his team to reach the semi-finals where they will win without trembling to reach the final. He has the opportunity to further etch his name in League of Legends history by becoming the first ADC to win three Worlds in a row. Maybe enough this time to silence his last haters forever.