The Play That Seemed Like a Mistake but Was Actually a Calculation by Gumayusi
In the match against Gen.G, one of the players who, despite not having a particularly impressive KDA, made significant contributions to HLE’s victory was marksman Gumayusi. Not only did he use Jhin and Yuumi to execute solid kill combos with his teammates, but the FMVP of the World Championship also made precise short calls that helped his team secure crucial plays, leading to a win for the “Orange House.” In fact, his attempt to take down Ruler, which resulted in his own demise at the end of the match, was also a strategic move by Gumayusi.
Specifically, the recent mic-check revealed that Gumayusi’s attempt to dive in was not just to take down Ruler, but also to bait out his summoner spells and Guardian Angel. If Ruler were able to retreat to the fountain to heal, HLE might not have been able to finish the game at that moment, especially with Gen.G still having two members alive, two towers protecting the Nexus, and Canyon almost respawned.
Attempting to take down Ruler forced his Guardian Angel to activate, keeping him occupied long enough for HLE to surround and defeat Gen.G’s bot lane, subsequently clearing the towers and securing the victory. Moreover, Gumayusi even acknowledged that he was “about to go down” to inform his teammates of the situation.
Gumayusi is Becoming More Than Just a Typical AD
If he were just an AD dealing damage when necessary, or even pulling off 1v2 plays and stealing objectives, Gumayusi has done that many times in the past to the point where it became a habit. However, communicating more and making short calls is something this player rarely executed while still under the T1 banner. Now, the FMVP of the World Championship has the opportunity to refine his skills at HLE.
Of course, it’s unlikely for an AD to become the main shot-caller. But with his experience and mindset, Gumayusi’s contributions through short calls in specific situations during matches will still be incredibly valuable, even decisive, as seen in the recent game against Gen.G.