T1 Gumayusi updates his infamous ‘ramen theory’ as LoL meta evolves

To follow up on his 2023 statement, during a recent interview with Hotspawn, T1’s flagship ADC, Gumayusi, expressed how his opinion has changed regarding the “ramen theory” with the current League of Legends meta.

In August 2023, Gumayusi offered up a humorous yet insightful take on his role in League: the “ramen theory.” During a livestream, he compared his role as ADC to the egg in a bowl of instant ramen: not a necessity, but far more satisfying when the base ingredients are solid. “ADC is the egg, and you don’t need it. But if they are the same ramen, the one with an egg is better,” he said.

However, when talking about the same statement recently, Gumayusi said, “I’ve said things like this before, but in the current patch, AD carries really need to establish early control. Things like map control and dragon control are very important.”

Further emphasising how important the ADC role has become, he said, “I think it’s quite a crucial role now—you need to start playing through bot lane right from the beginning. When making ramen, you need to start by boiling water. In the same way, the game has to start from the bot lane right from the beginning.”

While it may have started as a meme, the ramen theory now has an oddly motivational undertone. Gumayusi’s journey has been anything but ordinary, rising through the T1 system, helping the team to multiple titles, including the LCK, EWC, and Worlds.

Even at MSI 2025 and EWC 2025, he was gunning for the titles, barely missing out at MSI to Gen.G in the finals and losing out in the semi-finals of the EWC with a disappointing 2-0 loss against Anyone’s Legend.

Following this loss, the talented ADC will be hoping to bounce back strong in the LCK ahead of Worlds 2025. And if things do work out in his favour, this ramen analogy might just become a blueprint for other rosters: keep your team’s broth boiling, then let the egg rise.

Whether you’re climbing solo queue or rooting for T1 at Worlds 2025, Gumayusi’s ramen theory is a metaphor that acts as a reminder that every piece matters in building greatness in League of Legends.