Official

HLE locks in its new bot laner

Hanwha Life Esports confirms Gumayusi as its AD carry for the 2026 season.

Hanwha Life Esports has officially announced the signing of Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong for the AD carry role, completing one of the offseason’s most-watched roster builds. The move ends Gumayusi’s long run with T1 and immediately positions HLE as a must-scout team heading into 2026.

The confirmed lineup around him is stacked: Zeus in the top lane, Kanavi in the jungle, Zeka in mid, and Delight at support. On paper, it’s a roster designed to win lanes and translate early control into clean objective snowballs.

Impact

Why this move matters

This isn’t just a jersey swap—HLE’s win condition map expands.

Gumayusi gives HLE a bot-lane carry with proven late-game discipline, while Kanavi’s style can accelerate the map through earlier pressure and sharper transitions. If HLE stabilizes comms quickly, they can threaten from multiple angles instead of being forced into single-lane insurance plans.

Coach brief

Draft + prep notes

What to watch in early stage games.

  • Bot lane identity changes: expect heavier “play-through-bot” looks while Gumayusi/Delight build timing.
  • Mid–jungle priority spikes with Kanavi/Zeka can unlock early river control and objective setups.
  • If teams try to punish synergy gaps, watch for early lane swaps/roams to stress the new comms.

Watchlist

Three storylines to track

  • Gumayusi vs T1: instant headline matchups if the schedule lines up early.
  • How fast does Gumayusi sync with Delight after years paired with Keria?
  • Does HLE’s ceiling rise with Kanavi’s tempo compared to last year’s approach?