T1 has made waves by confirming that Choi ‘Doran’ Hyeon-jun will stay with the organization for the 2026 LCK season. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyeong’s departure from T1’s Worlds 2025 championship-winning lineup.
T1 has solidified its roster for the upcoming season by securing Doran’s contract extension. This decision leaves no uncertainties about the team’s lineup, with Oner, Faker, and Keria already committed to T1 for the foreseeable future. Oner and Keria have contracts extending to 2026, while Faker has re-signed until 2029.
A Championship Winning Season
Doran joined T1 at the beginning of the 2025 season, stepping into the shoes of former top laner Choi ‘Zeus’ Woo-je. Despite this change, T1 clinched its third consecutive world title, although they did not win any domestic splits. Before his tenure at T1, Doran played for Hanwha Life Esports and Gen.G, where he achieved four LCK split victories. Doran celebrated his first major international triumph by beating KT Rolster in the 2025 Worlds Grand Finals, subsequently choosing Ambessa for a Worlds 2025 skin.
What Next for T1?
With Doran’s re-signing, four of the five current world champions remain with T1. The next challenge for the team is to find a replacement for their star bot laner, Gumayusi. Reports suggest T1 is eyeing Kim ‘Peyz’ Su-hwan from JD Gaming. Peyz, only 19 years old, has already enjoyed international success, having won MSI 2024 with Gen.G. However, there has been no official word on who will fill the void left by Gumayusi.