T1 BuZz makes history as first player to attend every VALORANT Champions

Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul has become the only player to attend every edition of the VALORANT Champions since the inaugural edition in 2021. Following Nongshim RedForce's victory over Global Esports at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Stage 2, T1 have secured their spot at VALORANT Champions 2026, which will take place in Shanghai, China.

T1 BuZz makes history

T1 needed either a victory for Nongshim RedForce or a win of their own against VARREL to secure their qualification. However, Nongshim Redforce's victory was enough to book T1's place at Champions before they had even stepped onto the stage. T1 would later go on to defeat VARREL as well.

With this qualification, BuZz has now become the only player to have been present at every edition of the biggest international event in VALORANT. He has achieved this feat with three different organizations: Vision Strikers, which was later acquired by DRX, in 2021; KIWOOM DRX from 2022 to 2024; and finally T1, whom he has represented since 2025.

So close, yet still out of reach

In 2026, only three players had a chance to join this exclusive group. However, aside from BuZz, neither of the other two contenders managed to qualify for VALORANT Champions 2026. They were Jake "Boaster" Howlett and Kim "MaKo" Myeong-kwan.

For Boaster, Fnatic failed to qualify for the tournament after suffering defeats against two Tier 2 organizations, managing just one victory along the way. KIWOOM DRX, on the other hand, fell short at the very beginning of the tournament, failing to win a single match in the Playoffs stage.

Now, BuZz is the only player who can keep this record alive heading into 2027. Despite making six appearances at VALORANT Champions, he has yet to lift the trophy, with his best result coming in 2022, when he finished third.

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Featured Image by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games