Gumayusi’s “Strange” Yet Special Performance
Entering the match against BNK, the HLE team was undoubtedly favored. However, BNK also proved why they are one of the two teams qualified for the First Stand 2026 early in the season. Of course, HLE ultimately secured the victory despite BNK not being in their best form. The important thing is that the players delivered an excellent performance, but perhaps no one stood out quite like Gumayusi, even though his stats weren’t as “impressive” as Zeus or Zeka.
In the two winning games for HLE and the overall match against BNK, Gumayusi used champions that were at a disadvantage compared to his opponents, particularly the Xayah – Rakan combo in the decisive game. However, this highlighted the outstanding laning ability of the FMVP of the World Championship.
Throughout all three games, Gumayusi, somehow, always led in terms of advantages over his opponents. Only in game 3, during the early phase, did he suffer a bit due to frequent ganks. But once HLE regained control and Gumayusi found some space, he proved that even when using off-meta champions, he could maximize every stat and contribute as much as possible to his team’s victory.
In the game where he played Ziggs and then Xayah, Gumayusi didn’t have many kills. However, he had the highest number of assists, and the damage he dealt was also the most (in game 3). It can be said that HLE’s victory, alongside the dominance of Zeus and Zeka, was significantly attributed to Gumayusi maintaining and maximizing his potential while playing from a weaker side.
But surely Gumayusi can play even better
The ability to play from a weaker side is one of Gumayusi’s strengths, but currently, HLE is showing that they are on the right track. In the future, if HLE can fully harness Gumayusi’s potential, he could contribute even more to the victories of the “Orange House” in the future.