T1 terminates contracts coaches Daeny and Zefa, so what’s next?

In a dramatic mid-season move, Korean esports organization T1 has completely overhauled its coaching leadership during week 6 of the 2021 LCK Summer Split. This unexpected decision comes at a critical juncture in the competitive calendar.

The organization announced immediate termination of contracts for head coach Yang “Daeny” Dae-in and strategic coach Lee “Zefa” Jae-min. The timing is particularly notable – announced mere hours before T1’s crucial match against regional rivals KT Rolster. Both coaches depart following a season marked by inconsistent performances and strategic confusion, leaving the team temporarily without formal coaching leadership.

A Message from T1 pic.twitter.com/J8ClbXp5am

— T1 LoL (@T1LoL) July 15, 2021

T1’s Ambitious Roster Strategy Falls Short

This season has showcased a fundamentally different T1 approach compared to their traditional methods. The coaching philosophy implemented by former DAMWON Gaming specialists Daeny and Zefa aimed to revolutionize the team’s competitive structure.

The innovative 10-player roster concept introduced for the 2021 season promised strategic flexibility through matchup-specific lineups. While theoretically providing tactical advantages, the system encountered significant practical implementation challenges. Throughout the spring split, constant roster rotations prevented development of team synergy and consistent playstyles. The result was a disappointing fourth-place finish, far below expectations for an organization accustomed to championship contention.

For the summer split, T1 abandoned the rotational model in favor of a stable five-player core from their playoff roster. This shift provided marginal improvement in practice consistency but failed to address deeper systemic issues.

While individual player performance hasn’t reached peak levels, the primary deficiency has been team coordination and decisive engagement execution. Much of this responsibility falls on coaching direction and strategic preparation, areas now undergoing complete restructuring.

T1 currently maintains a mediocre 5-5 record, positioning them fifth in the standings. This performance level threatens their chances at both domestic championship success and qualification for the prestigious 2021 World Championship tournament.

Who Will Guide T1 Forward?

With Daeny and Zefa’s departure, the critical question becomes leadership succession. While T1’s future plans remain undisclosed, community speculation has identified several compelling candidates.

Primary speculation centers on T1 content creator and streamer Nick “LS” Cesare, who previously engaged in serious negotiations for a coaching position. During the previous offseason, LS contemplated transitioning to coaching but ultimately prioritized his content creation role within the organization. His continued focus on streaming remains probable, though community discussion will persist until official announcements are made.

An alternative theory suggests mid lane legend Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok might assume a hybrid playing-coach role. This would significantly increase Faker’s organizational influence and strategic input. The iconic player has previously expressed reservations about Daeny and Zefa’s team-building methodology, potentially positioning him to demonstrate his coaching capabilities.

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