Fnatic is embarking on a new journey in the LEC with the addition of Yoon «Poby» Sung-won, who joins the team as their new mid laner for the Summer Split 2025 straight from T1 Esports Academy in Korea.
Poby takes over the position from Marek «Humanoid» Brázda, who has been moved to the team’s inactive League roster. The rest of the Fnatic lineup from last season remains unchanged for now, with a new coaching addition of Duffman, working alongside Grabbz earlier this year to steer the team back towards success.
The 19-year-old mid laner gained attention in 2023 when he was called to T1’s main roster during the LCK Summer Split to temporarily replace Faker, who was out due to a wrist injury. Although he was inexperienced, Poby demonstrated impressive potential on the big stage, acquiring valuable LCK experience with the same T1 team that subsequently won two World Championships.
While his performance wasn’t outstanding, his capability to compete with top mid laners in the LCK caught the attention of several teams. Upon Faker’s return, Poby returned to the Academy team, continuing to perform well alongside players like Shin «Smash» Geum-jae, who has also recently joined the T1 main roster in place of Gumayusi.
Poby previously played with Rekkles, a renowned figure in the European League esports scene and a Fnatic legend, during their time at T1 Academy. Rekkles likely provided Poby with valuable insights gleaned from his extensive competitive experience in Europe.
This Korean talent is set to play a crucial role in Fnatic’s rebuilding efforts as they seek to rise back to the top of the LEC. The team has struggled in recent splits to maintain a consistent title-contending position, last winning an LEC title in Summer 2018.
Fnatic boasts a storied history in the LEC, being one of the most honored teams in Europe. As the first EU LCS champions in 2013, they have continuously been strong contenders, even during a period when rivals like G2 Esports and MAD Lions have gained prominence. However, the lack of recent trophies despite several playoff appearances has motivated the organization to search for that missing element to reclaim their title as European champions.
In recent years, the organization also tested the waters by onboarding two other Korean players–Oh «Noah» Hyeon-taek and Yoon «Jun» Se-jun–but these moves did not last long despite some solid performances. Both players have since moved on and currently compete for GIANTX in the LEC. The acquisition of the rookie Poby reflects Fnatic’s commitment to refreshing their roster with new talent, potentially marking a strategic long-term investment aimed at achieving better results.
In the announcement, Fnatic characterized Poby as a player who shares their vision of «saving the LEC» and restoring international prominence to European League of Legends. The region faced challenges at the recent MSI 2025, where both G2 and KOI finished in 7th-8th place out of 10 teams.
Poby expressed his belief that he can enhance the team’s «tempo and overall strategy,» among other aspects, providing Fnatic with the necessary edge to recapture its former glory. With the LEC Summer Split 2025 approaching, attention will be drawn to how swiftly Poby can adjust to his new environment and whether Fnatic’s decision will prove beneficial in the long term.
