T1 Scrambling: T1 Head Coach Bengi resigns from League of Legends roster

T1 Head Coach Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong has announced his resignation from the T1 organization. He is set to depart from the organization at the end of the current LCK Summer Season according to sources. In the meanwhile, Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon has been called up to serve as the interim head coach with the sudden departure of “Bengi.” “Tom” previously served as a coach for T1 and was also previously a professional League of Legends player for the organization.

Etched History

In terms of legacy, few players or coaches can reach the heights of “Bengi,” who is one of only two players who hold three Worlds Championships. The other being of course, his former teammate Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. Moreover, “Bengi” has had a long, storied history with T1, having originally joined the roster alongside “Faker” in 2013 as their jungler. In November 2016, he departed for Vici Gaming before finally retiring as a player. He then returned to T1 as a coach for the roster between November 2017 to November 2018. He transitioned to Head Coach of the T1 Challengers roster after this point and managed to coach them to a 1st placing in the LCK CL 2021 Spring season and Spring Playoffs.

Returning to the main T1 roster following that, he worked as a coach for the roster for nearly a year between December 2021 and September 2022 before being called up a month before Worlds 2022 to serve as the interim Head Coach, replacing Head Coach Choi “Polt” Seong-hun. His return to T1’s main roster just in time for Worlds 2022 proved to be a great call as under his leadership, the roster made the Grand Finals of Worlds for the fourth time in both his and “Faker’s” career. Unfortunately, T1 was unable to secure their Worlds victory in 2022, falling to DRX.

T1’s message for “Bengi” to signal his farewell, shines well on the former Head Coach as it said: ‘His commitment, dedication, and inspiring legacy have left an indelible mark on T1.’ They also affirmed that he would always ‘be a part of the T1 family.’

Amidst the Fire and Flames

Despite the low of falling in the Grand Finals, there was also a lot of highs for T1 coming into 2023. Their roster had made it to the Grand Finals of Worlds, went undefeated in an LCK split (one of the most competitive leagues in the world), showed great performances to top the league in the Spring Split, and made top 3 at MSI. However, since coming into the Summer Split, T1 have struggled massively to deliver to their same standard, currently sitting at 4th with a 6-4 scoreline. Moreover, their general play level has many people remarking on their dip in form, cleanliness, and cohesion as a unit. Criticism mounted for the embattled roster, and then further tragedy struck.

Star mid laner and long-time veteran “Faker” announced an indefinite break due to a hand injury that saw him having to bow out of the roster for the time being. Now playing with a sub, Yoon “Poby” Sung-won, T1 look to be in deep trouble heading into the second half of the LCK Summer Split.

Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games