"I'm Very Confident in International-Event Gumayusi" — HLE's ADC Before The Start of MSI
Photo Credit: Riot Games
Hanwha Life Esports open the MSI bracket stage as the LCK first seed, facing Secret Whales — the LCP first seed — on July 3. After winning Road to MSI and arriving as one of the clear favourites, Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong sat down with RFT.GG to talk about the team's rise, his synergy with Zeus, the symbolic torch Uzi handed him at Worlds, and his advice for Western bot laners.
Hanwha Life looked much more dominant this split, right from the start of Road to MSI. What was the main improvement compared to the LCK Cup?
I believe our team just needed some time, and I had really strong confidence that we could do well and play really well. I was always pretty confident about it.
You won Road to MSI and arrive as the heavy favourites. T1 rarely came into internationals with that status based on domestic performances. Does being the favourite put pressure on you, or is it something you welcome?
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Being considered a strong favourite is not something I'm not used to. So I'm pretty confident, and we came here to win. I hope we can play up to the expectations.
Throughout your career you seem to thrive most in games with low resources, playing weak side. Best ADCs are often the ones who can do a lot in fights without being particularly fed. Is that a fair description of your style?
Yeah, I believe I'm pretty good at pulling off that role I'm given.
Hanwha Life also has a very strong top side, so if I'm playing that low-resource, losing-matchup, weak-side role, the return coming from that strategy or playstyle is even bigger.
This year you reunited with Zeus, who loves counter-picks, and taking resources early. The whole team plays very aggressively now around Kanavi and even Delight roaming a lot. How was it adapting to that style — are you and Zeus the perfect match in the sidelanes?
I think that's also part of the image of how we're perceived by people around us. But honestly, Hanwha Life doesn't really play every game in that one specific style.
What I can say for sure is that me and Zeus have really good synergy and teamwork, and pretty decent synergy with Delight and Kanavi too.
Considering the amount of time we had to build that teamwork, I think we built it pretty fast, and that led to a really good performance.
Photo Credit: LCK
At Worlds last year, when Uzi handed you the finals MVP trophy, it felt like a passing of the torch — from the greatest ADC ever to the next greatest ADC ever. Did you feel that way too?
So when I heard he'd be awarding the finals MVP, I was like — 'I wish I'd be the one getting the trophy from him.'
So I was really happy. I'm just grateful and happy to find out that the fans also saw that moment in such an iconic and symbolic way.
If T1 makes it to the main stage, you'll face your former team at an international for the first time. Is there anything strange or even difficult about playing against the legacy you spent so much of your career building there?
First off, it feels great to participate in an international event as part of Hanwha Life for the first time. And I'm looking forward to seeing how T1 performs on the international stage as well.
But I'm very confident in international-event Gumayusi.
So I'm pretty sure I'll be able to put up a great performance. I think we're going to have a great match together.
Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
With your experience facing so many Western ADCs, have you noticed a pattern where they tend to struggle? And what would be your one piece of advice for them?
I believe botlane is mostly all about understanding and knowledge of champion matchups and drafting. Once you have lane priority, you'll be able to pull off a lot of different plays. So I think doing a lot of research and studying really matters.
One last word for your Western fans?
[In english]: Thank you for supporting me. I'm winning the MSI. Thank you.
Rapid Fire Questions
A rapid-fire round to close out — yes/no answers, with optional context.
You're the best ADC in the world right now. → Yes.
And the best in history. → Yes, I will be.
Your Miss Fortune skin is the best skin ever made for a pro player. → Yes.
Hanwha Life will end BLG's golden road. → Yes.
Peyz is the second best ADC in the world right now (this year). → Yes.
W interview du ADC goat