📝 Geekay Esports Dismisses Head Coach GgulTaek Mid-Season After Repeated Absences

Geekay Esports have parted ways with head coach Kim “GgulTaek” Jeong-youn during Stage 3 of the Overwatch Champions Series 2025, following concerns regarding a lack of attendance and engagement with the team, sources within the roster have confirmed.

Ggultaek and coach Eric “Wheats” Perez had been leading the core of the roster since the start of the year, back when they were competing under the NTMR banner. Under the coaching duo, the team had a strong competitive record, including a 3rd-place finish at the OWCS 2025 Champions Clash in Hangzhou, and a strong showing at the Midseason Championship, where they pushed eventual champions Team Falcons to a five-map series in the 5th-8th bracket.

However, internal issues started developing during Stage 2 and gradually crescendoed in Stage 3, leading to GgulTaek’s dismissal. In an interview with Geekay tank Riley “cuFFa” Brown, he explained that the decision was driven by repeated absences and a growing strain on the rest of the squad.

“When you get paid to work at any job, you’re expected to show up,” cuFFa said. “There were far too many times when he wasn’t showing up. It wasn’t very respectful for everyone else putting all this time, so we made a decision to fire him.”

With GgulTaek gone, both Wheats and support player Benjamin “UltraViolet” David have stepped up to absorb coaching responsibilities.

According to cuFFa, UV had already taken an active analytical role before the change, assisting with notes, screenshots, VOD reviews, and match breakdowns.

“UV especially is taking much more of a coaching role,” cuFFa noted. “He’s always been providing helpful insight… even before GgulTaek was gone.”

Despite the turbulence, cuFFa emphasised that the shift has been surprisingly positive for team morale, especially after what he described as a mentally difficult Stage 3.

“I don’t think it’s changed too much, and honestly, it’s been kind of refreshing,” he said. “Our mentals were shattered for all of Stage 3… but now our team environment is much healthier, much better, closer to our Stage 1 and Stage 2 environment.”

Geekay Esports are already in bootcamp, preparing for the World Finals in Stockholm, and according to cuFFa, the atmosphere is the strongest it has been in months.

“There’s been a vibe shift going into Stockholm. So far, the bootcamp vibe has been really good. It’s an insane advantage to be in person and iron things out.”

Geekay’s next appearance will be on the world stage, facing off against Al Qadsiah, now with a new coaching setup and a renewed sense of direction as they aim to prove the mid-season disruption won’t slow their shot at the OWCS title.