Why Easyhoon is the coach that T1 needs in 2026

Naerlyn Published April 24, 2026

T1 has just signed Lee “Easyhoon” Ji-hoon as their new coach, to start in Round 2 of the LCK 2026. Easyhoon lifted the Summoner’s Cup with SKT T1 in 2015, and most recently coached Bilibili Gaming in the LPL.

The organization’s former substitute mid laner will join Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon and Cho “Mata” Se-hyeong in T1’s coaching staff, and he could be just what the team needs to shine again.

Easyhoon joins T1 as a coach in the LCK Round 2 2026

Easyhoon rose to fame in 2015 as he shared SKT T1’s mid lane spot with Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. The two mid laners shared the playtime as Ji-hoon was the better control mage player, even though the GOAT was excellent all around. In fact, SKT T1 Azir isn’t one of Faker’s skins, it was earned by Easyhoon that year.

Afterwards, he went to China and his career stopped making waves. Easyhoon retired as a player in 2018, and took on the mantle of a coach. Then, after spending one year as an analyst for Riot Games, he joined Bilibili Gaming’s coaching staff in 2024.

With him, the team won two out of four splits in the LPL and reached the World Championship Finals in 2024. Facing T1 of all teams, BLG took them to five games before losing.

Now, Easyhoon joins T1 once more starting from the LCK Round 2.

From facing them with BLG to joining T1: Why Easyhoon is the coach that T1 needs. Image source: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games

Why Easyhoon is the coach that T1 needs in 2026?

Since Summer 2022, T1 hasn’t won any split of the LCK. In fact, they haven’t won any Riot tournament besides the World Championship – which is a weird bar to have. T1 always does well at Worlds, but they’re a second- to fourth-place team regionally.

Some of the same issues have persisted within the team for a long time, even amid roster changes. One of them is a matter of champion pools, with Faker’s in particular having been under scrutiny.

In 2025 and 2026, Faker has been able to play numerous champions, but he’s had blind spots on crucial meta picks. Notably, while he shines on Galio, Azir, or Orianna; his Aurora, Annie, and Yone are lackluster. With his history of completing Faker’s champion pool, Easyhoon might be able to give him the keys to finally unlock those champions.

Solving the meta for T1

Next up comes a draft problem. T1 has a history of handicapping themselves with erratic drafts. Kim “kkOma” Jeong-gyun’s temporary leave and replacement with Tom hasn’t helped either.

In fairness, part of the issue also lies within the champion pools. However, a core problem is the fact that they take too long to read the meta. By the time T1 catches on, a new patch has already arrived – which is part of what makes them shine at Worlds, a long tournament played on a single patch.

BLG’s drafts were a strength of the team when they faced the eternal champions in the World Finals. A coach knowing how to solve that puzzle will lift a major weight from T1.

Lastly, the team has faulty macro plans. While they have the tenacity to hold onto games, T1 famously makes decision-making mistakes around early game movement and objectives.

As it turns out, Easyhoon was also the mind behind the early game decisions of BLG during that series. Those strategies gave BLG an edge that only wasn’t enough due to facing a World Finals Faker. Considering these, Easyhoon will fit right into his old home of T1.

Featured image source: Riot Games