Sources: T1 Esports Academy’s midlaner Poby set to join Fnatic in the LEC, replacing Humanoid

A seismic shift is underway at Fnatic. According to Sheep Esports sources, Yun "Poby" Sung-won has reached a verbal agreement with the Black and Orange. The midlaner of T1 Esports Academy—the LCK CL roster of the world’s most iconic League of Legends organization—is set to replace Marek “Humanoid” Brázda, a core member of both the LEC and Fnatic. A two-time LEC champion in 2021 with MAD Lions, the Czech player joined the team in 2022 as a star signing, alongside Ivan “Razork” Martín, to end the team’s title drought, which dates back to 2018.

But over more than three years—an eternity in esports—Humanoid failed to deliver on that mission, and Fnatic’s dry spell persisted. The British team endured repeated frustrations, especially throughout 2024, culminating in three consecutive losses in finals to rivals G2 Esports. Although often outshone by Rasmus “Caps” Winther, Humanoid consistently remained among the top-tier midlaners in Europe. This status preserved the organization’s confidence in him, in the absence of clearly superior alternatives.

While Humanoid was undeniably a benchmark in his role, he was frequently criticized for his inability to rise to the occasion and shoulder responsibility in high-pressure moments. These shortcomings fueled calls from fans for a strategic overhaul. Tensions were further exacerbated by the player’s statements, where he cited a lack of motivation in the LEC to explain some of his underwhelming performances—yet still struggled to elevate his play during international events.

The start of the 2025 season, however, disrupted the status quo. The arrival of highly promising midlaners capable of rivaling Humanoid—such as Vladimiros "Vladi" Kourtidis at Karmine Corp and Joseph "Jojopyun" Pyun at Movistar KOI—further highlighted Fnatic’s reluctance to initiate major changes. As the year progressed, criticism intensified. Despite a strong start to the Spring Split, Humanoid once again faded during the playoffs. After finishing fourth in the Spring standings, Fnatic finally chose to shake things up.

The surprise lies not only in Humanoid’s departure, but also in the identity of his successor. While several ERL players might have deserved promotion to the LEC—such as Šimon "OMON" Říháček (BK ROG Esports), who was reportedly considered, or Oh "Callme" Ji-hoon (Misa Esports)—Fnatic opted to recruit Poby. At just 19 years old, the young South Korean player has spent his entire career within the T1 system. Though a promotion to the main roster was impossible given the presence of legend Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, Poby did receive the opportunity to compete in 18 LCK games — eight BO3 series — during Summer 2023, when Faker was sidelined due to an arm injury.

Thrown into a struggling team deprived of its iconic captain, Poby had little opportunity to shine in Korea’s top league, recording four wins and 14 losses. More broadly, he has yet to establish himself as a standout in LCK CL and has not claimed any titles in the second-tier league. In 2024, playing alongside Fnatic legend Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, he placed 9th in the Spring Split and 4th in the Summer.

Fnatic’s decision may therefore seem surprising, though evaluating LCK CL talent against European standards remains a complex task. With this move, the Black and Orange reconnect with their South Korean roots, which were temporarily set aside at the end of last year following the departures of Oh "Noah" Hyeon-taek and Yoon "Jun" Se-jun. That botlane pairing had been a relatively successful gamble despite falling short of titles. Poby will be expected to surpass that level, and his education within the T1 system will be a valuable asset.

For more roster changes, don't forget to check out our Transfers Hub. You can also discuss this move in our Discord server.