T1 has taken a decisive step to maintain its competitive edge by re-signing its top laner Choi ‘Doran’ Hyeon-jun for the 2026 LCK season. This move comes at a crucial time as the team prepares for the upcoming challenges following Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyeong’s exit from T1’s Worlds 2025 championship roster.
Doran has officially renewed his contract with T1, securing his position for the next season. This announcement concludes T1’s contract negotiations, as his teammates, Mun ‘Oner’ Hyeon-jun, Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok, and Ryu ‘Keria’ Min-seok, are already set to compete in the next year. Oner and Keria are locked in until 2026, while Faker has committed to T1 until 2029.
A Championship Winning Season
Doran’s journey with T1 began at the start of the 2025 season, stepping in for Choi ‘Zeus’ Woo-je. Despite the changes, T1 clinched its third consecutive world title, although it did not secure any domestic splits. Before joining T1, Doran’s career included notable performances with Hanwha Life Esports and Gen.G, with four LCK splits to his name.
Following the triumph over KT Rolster in the 2025 Worlds Grand Finals, Doran earned his first major international championship and chose Ambessa for the Worlds 2025 skin.
What Next for T1?
With Doran continuing on the team, four out of the five world champions will still represent T1. The organization now faces the challenge of finding a replacement for the departed star bot laner, Gumayusi. Reports suggest T1 is considering Kim ‘Peyz’ Su-hwan, currently with JD Gaming. The 19-year-old Peyz has already experienced international victory, having won MSI 2024 with Gen.G. However, no official announcement on Gumayusi’s successor has been made yet.