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BNK FEARX Bench Diable for Disciplinary Reasons
Few players in all of professional League of Legends have made a splash in the competitive scene this year quite like Nam "Diable" Dae-geun. Despite becoming the biggest star of the team, though, BNK FEARX have announced their benching of the young AD carry player in a shock move few could have seen coming.
The Bad Side of Diable
Diable's rise has been astronomic. Just a few months ago, Diable was crowned Rookie of the Year at the 2025 LCK Awards. Coming into his second year playing at the top level, Diable continued to impress in the LCK, leading BNK FEARX to their first-ever international tournament at First Stand 2026.
So, what exactly went wrong for Diable? As it turns out, the team's issues with the player didn't come on the Rift, but outside of it. In BFX's announcement, the organization stated that Diable failed to attend a fan meeting, which he had already previously agreed to attend.
"Regardless of a player's individual performance, alignment with the team's direction requires respect toward the organization, fans, and all individuals working together within the team environment."
In their announcement, BNK FEARX also disclosed this had become a repeated issue with Diable. Now, the organization clearly felt that drastic measures had to be taken.
The Right Call?
Despite an impressive second place finish at the LCK Cup 2026, BFX's form has taken a fall as of late. The team has lost their last two matches in sweeping fashion, and currently sit in 7th place in the standings at the LCK 2026 Season Rounds 1-2.
If BNK FEARX have any hopes of qualifying for Playoffs and, eventually, MSI 2026, then the time to press on is now. That said, there is simply no excuse for choosing not to fulfill your commitments to your team outside of the game.
In South Korean esports, more than anywhere else, fans are the heart and soul of every team. Though the decision to bench Diable may seem harsh, it is one that needed to be made. And what's more, it is one that should make Diable a better player, teammate, and professional in the long run.
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Featured image credit: Cesar Galeao/Riot Games
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