Buzz
There has been much debate surrounding which players of T1 will stay and which ones will leave if T1 disbands.
Just a few days ago, Gumayusi continued to discuss the possibility of T1 disbanding their current lineup after the conclusion of the 2023 season. Previously, the T1 ADC also mentioned that this could be the final season for the current T1 lineup, so he wants to bring home the 2023 World Championship as a beautiful ending for this roster. Of course, this has been anticipated for a while. But let's not discuss whether T1 can win Worlds 2023 or not. The question of who will stay and who will leave is sparking many debates in the League of Legends community in general and T1 fans in particular.
Zeus: High likelihood of staying
Zeus has always had a weakness in his mentality when entering finals. However, in all matches leading up to the final, Zeus has shone brightly. Furthermore, this player's weakness is simply a psychological issue. Therefore, Zeus is likely to stay. Moreover, in the current LCK, Zeus is a rare young talent in the Top Lane with potential for development, and T1 surely does not want to lose this precious gem.
Oner: 50 - 50
After the LCK Spring 2022, Oner's performance has fluctuated worrisomely. The 2002-born player is dubbed the 'Jungle God' when in top form and adeptly handles champions. However, when his form declines, even champions he excels with like Lee Sin or Viego fail to shine under Oner's control. Nonetheless, the likelihood of Oner leaving is quite low as he is under contract until 2024. At present, it would be challenging for any team to financially break his contract. Particularly, with the LCK implementing salary caps, T1's players could potentially impact the salary cap of other teams.
Faker: Chance of leaving only about 10%
It would be incredibly illogical to suggest that Faker would leave T1 after the 2023 season concludes. He is under contract with T1 until 2025 and moreover, Faker is the heart and soul of T1. This has been evident when Faker took a hiatus from competition due to injury. Surely, Faker will remain loyal to T1, and the team itself will go to great lengths to retain Faker.
However, if Faker were to leave T1 as a player, anything could happen. The reason Faker took a hiatus from competition is due to injury, and that is certainly not a minor injury. Faker himself will turn 28 in 2024 - a very advanced age for a player. Furthermore, no one can guarantee that Faker's injury will not recur in the future. But if Faker and T1 have a succession training plan and Faker continues to stay at T1 in a different capacity, then the possibility of the 'Demon King' no longer competing could entirely materialize.
Gumayusi and Keria: 50 - 50
Gumayusi is the most consistently performing player of T1, even surpassing Faker in many instances. However, he is currently under scrutiny solely for a single careless mistake in the grand finals against Gen.G, which is unfair to Gumayusi. Furthermore, Gumayusi frequently mentions the possibility of parting ways, so it has been speculated that if T1 does not proactively propose or win the 2023 Worlds Championship, Gumayusi is likely to leave.
Both Gumayusi and Zeus are also reaching the end of their contracts alongside Keria. T1's Support prodigy has endured several trophyless seasons in a row. However, if Gumayusi, his close friend, leaves T1, there's a high likelihood Keria will also choose to depart. While Keria can synergize well with various teammates, whether to stay or not lies in his and T1's choices. Moreover, if Keria leaves, many teams will be willing to spend money, such as Gen.G, as their Support Delight's contract is also expiring at the end of this year.
Conclusion
Whether the current lineup disbands or not, and whoever leaves, there will undoubtedly be many changes at T1 by the end of 2023. And whether things will improve or worsen depends on the team's performance at the upcoming 2023 Worlds Championship.
