Introduction: The S15 season has officially kicked off, and the vast majority of players have been paying attention to the recent confrontations. Competitions across all major regions are wrapping up, with fierce BO5 clashes taking place. During this period, discussions about the T1 team have been very frequent. As a top-tier team in the LCK region, T1 has enjoyed immense popularity and hype over the past few years, being an absolute powerhouse with multiple championships. However, T1’s fanbase seems somewhat dissatisfied. Recently, wreaths were placed again at the entrance of T1’s base, and there was sympathy expressed for the substitute AD player Smash. Frankly, this seems a bit unreasonable since “Little Lü Bu” (the AD player) is currently performing quite well.

Wreaths once again cover the T1 base

Most players are quite familiar with T1. As a top squad in the LCK region, T1’s overall performance in recent years has been outstanding. They reached the World Championship finals three years in a row and won the championship twice consecutively, earning the title of a five-time world champion team. Early this season, T1’s results fluctuated significantly, and the roster saw some changes. The top lane spot was taken over by Doran from HLE, and the AD player “Little Lü Bu” was benched for a period. Smash’s time as a starter sparked widespread discussion online, even leading to rumors of internal conflicts within T1: head coach Kkoma reportedly having issues with “Little Lü Bu.”

Unexpectedly, before MSI began, T1 made roster adjustments, reinstating “Little Lü Bu” as the starting AD. This finalized the lineup: top Doran, jungle Oner, mid Faker, AD “Little Lü Bu,” and support Keria. It was assumed that T1’s performance would stabilize in the third segment, with no further drama. Yet fans once again placed wreaths outside T1’s building, and an announcement was made that a wreath protest would be held from 9 AM to 6 PM in front of the T1 headquarters. This demonstration was a lawful assembly, following official procedures, which was surprising considering the prior notice.

According to translations from netizens, the main issues of this protest include CEO interference in the starting lineup and the collapse of sportsmanship. There is no fair competition and no international championship. The global ban/pick system has widened the hero pool problem, leading to repetitive ban/pick and laning phase mistakes — repeated errors are seen as a reflection of skill. There is no protection for rookie players; where is the club’s responsibility? The club only has the right to interfere with starters but no accountability for results. Clearly, the core issue of this wreath protest is the starting AD position. Fans believe that team management improperly influenced T1’s starting lineup choices, which should not happen.

Honestly, judging from match performance, “Little Lü Bu” has been holding a decent pace. Smash, as a rookie, showed some promising plays in his LCK debut, but he still has a long way to go to earn honors on the world stage. Criticizing “Little Lü Bu”’s hero pool is valid since global bans have greatly limited his AD champion options, but that doesn’t prove Smash’s performance on stage is superior. If “Little Lü Bu” were truly unstable, T1’s management wouldn’t have kept him as a starter. This seems to be a dispute over the AD starting role. Don’t “Little Lü Bu”’s fans have any response?

Farewell thinks

It seems that wreaths and trucks have become a cultural symbol within T1. Whenever issues arise, fans spontaneously organize such activities outside the T1 club building. It feels like T1’s management is too tolerant. If it were an LPL team, a statement would be released immediately, and a lawyer’s letter would be sent out. If LCK teams handled things similarly, many problems could be avoided.

What do you, dear viewers, think about this matter?