When we talk about the most grueling years for a League of Legends pro, Min-hyeong 'Gumayusi' Lee is undoubtedly at the top of the list. After a rocky start at the LCK Cup left him fighting for his starting spot against 'Smash', he found himself at the center of an unwanted 'nepotism' controversy—fueled by T1 CEO Joe Marsh publicly calling for his return to the main roster. He suffered greatly from the barrage of abuse from toxic fandoms.

They say a pro proves everything with results, don't they? 'Gumayusi' began his resurgence starting from the MSI qualifiers, and by the time the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) rolled around, he was in peak form. He helped lead T1—who entered as the LCK's 4th seed—all the way to the grand final. Following a stellar performance against KT, he secured an unprecedented 'three consecutive World Championship titles'.

'Gumayusi' was crowned MVP of the finals. In his post-match interview, he reflected, "This year, I ironed out my in-game weaknesses and gained some vital mental clarity." He was already formidable, but having seen him emerge even tougher this season, one can't help but be excited about what he’ll bring to the table next year.