Joe Marsh’s criticism of how Zeus’ off-season negotiations unfolded sparked a response from Zeus’ agency, The Play, providing their perspective. According to their account, mere minutes might have determined whether Zeus stayed with T1 or signed with Hanwha Life Esports (HLE).
From the moment Zeus’ departure from T1 was finalized, the situation has been contentious, with T1 and The Play engaging in a public dispute over the negotiation details. T1’s CEO, Joe Marsh, accused The Play of being dishonest about contract terms, claiming he was prepared to offer Zeus the highest salary legally allowed in the LCK to keep him on the team. Both sides agree on one thing: Zeus came very close to staying with T1.
ZEUS CHOSE HLE OVER T1 IN A TIGHT WINDOW
The Play claimed that HLE imposed a 3 PM deadline on November 19 for Zeus to decide. Or he would lose the opportunity to join their team. Marsh, however, disputed this, stating that HLE confirmed no such deadline existed. Despite this, The Play extended the supposed deadline to 3:30 PM, giving T1 additional time to counteroffer. However, no counteroffer arrived, and Zeus signed with HLE.
While this was happening, T1 representatives were en route to meet Zeus in person but didn’t arrive until 4 PM—too late to impact the decision.
In a statement shared by LCK Subs, The Play elaborated:
- The 3 PM deadline came at HLE’s request to finalize their free agency plans based on Zeus’ decision.
- Due to Zeus’ strong desire to stay with T1, The Play requested and received an extension until 3:30 PM, continuing online negotiations with T1 during this period.
- The agency claimed they were unaware of T1’s COO traveling to meet Zeus and emphasized that T1 could have sealed the deal by phone before 3:30 PM but didn’t agree to the terms.
MISCOMMUNICATION OR SOMETHING MORE?
The Play stated that Zeus’ quick decision reflected the time-sensitive nature of the LCK free agency market, not an intent to leave T1. They argued that players often must decide quickly due to market pressures, not lack of loyalty.
Ultimately, the roster move was set in motion. According to The Play, had T1 acted faster or if Zeus’ agency waited a bit longer, Zeus might have stayed with T1. Marsh, however, has suggested this was more than a simple miscommunication and alleged possible deception on the part of The Play.
While Doran may have been an easy second choice for T1, it’s evident they wanted to retain Zeus. The lingering question is whether the missed opportunity stemmed from genuine miscommunication or deliberate tactics during negotiations.
