In a recent AMA session on FMKorea, T1 CEO Joe Marsh aired his frustrations over the departure of top laner Zeus, revealing some sharp criticisms of the player’s agency, The Play. According to Marsh, Zeus’ agent misrepresented the situation and created obstacles that made retaining Zeus more difficult than necessary. The AMA provided some significant insights into the contract negotiations, which have been a point of contention after Zeus’ departure from T1.
Marsh emphasized that T1 made multiple efforts to keep Zeus, offering him top-tier salaries within the LCK, and presented several proposals. Despite these efforts, he claims the agency, and specifically Zeus’ agent, did not respond with counteroffers or clear communication. Marsh revealed that during a key meeting, Zeus’ agent claimed they had “nothing to say,” which left T1 perplexed, as it is unusual for an agent not to engage in contract negotiations. Furthermore, Marsh highlighted a deadline imposed by the agent, which he later learned was fabricated. He had contacted Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), a team that had reportedly set the deadline, but they denied any such deadline was established.
This has sparked a deeper debate about the role of Zeus’ agent in his decision to leave. The agent reportedly set a deadline for T1’s response but declined further discussions, frustrating both the T1 management and Zeus, who later chose not to re-sign with the team. While T1 was willing to match offers from other teams, including those from LPL organizations, they were left without the opportunity to do so because of the lack of communication from Zeus’ side.
Interestingly, Zeus himself had been close to leaving T1 previously, with some reports suggesting he was in talks with multiple LPL teams. However, the young top laner ultimately chose to stay with T1 after a change of heart. In a more recent interview, Zeus admitted that his desire to stay was fueled by his long-standing wish to beat LPL teams on a global stage, something he felt was best achieved with T1.
The ongoing drama is a reminder of the complicated dynamics between players, agents, and teams. While T1 clearly felt they went above and beyond to retain Zeus, the role of the agent in shaping the narrative around his contract renewal remains in question. The lack of transparency and communication from The Play left the situation unresolved until the very last minute, and it remains to be seen how this will impact future negotiations in the esports world.
The next steps in this saga depend on how Zeus and his agency respond to these claims. T1 has expressed openness to re-signing Zeus should he ever decide to return, leaving the door open for reconciliation, though the path forward is now clouded by the ongoing dispute.
