T1 executes massive roster overhaul ahead of 2027 season

Following the announcement of the 2027 VCT Partner teams, T1 has announced a sweeping overhaul of its main roster and coaching staff. On November 2, 2026, the organization officially parted ways with Head Coach Kim "KDG" Dong-gun, long-serving Coach Lee "CheongGak" Il-hoéyu, and players Kim "Meteor" Tae-O, Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom, and Kang "DH" Dong-ho.

Sweeping Departures Across Coaching Staff and Main Roster

The roster shakeup dismantles the core leadership that defined T1's recent international campaigns. Head Coach KDG, who originally joined T1 in October of 2025, departs after steering the organization through a semi-successful season.

Alongside him, Coach CheongGak ends a significant tenure that began on March of 2023, serving as a steady fixture behind the bench for over three years.

The player departures remove significant firepower and experience from the starting line-up.

• Two-time Masters winner Meteor, who joined T1 in October 2024, leaves upon the expiration of his contract.
• Former Masters winner with Gen.G Esports—Munchkin—who entered the fold in November of 2025, also departs after guiding the squad through demanding regional and international stages.
• Additionally, DH—who had returned to T1's primary roster in July of 2026 after a brief stint in T1 Academy—has officially concluded his contract with the team.

Dissolution of the T1 Academy Pipeline

The main roster departures follow a full wipe of T1's academy branch just one week prior. On October 26, 2026, T1 also bid farewell to T1 Academy coach Ma "ValAnalysis" Hyun-sung alongside all five active academy players: Park "Impact" Sung-hyun, Park "DarK" Jung-hyeon, Park "Satoru" Jeong-u, Han "Gnadel" Gnadel, and Oh "wezzy" Min-seo.

The organization praised the academy squad's match-over-match growth throughout 2026, but ultimately elected not to promote from within, opting instead for a blank slate across all tiers of its VALORANT esports program.

From Masters Bangkok to Champions

While the departures mark a sudden transition, the outgoing staff and players leave behind a remarkable legacy of franchise firsts.

Under the leadership of CheongGak and Meteor, T1 reached the pinnacle of international competition. They became the second-ever Pacific team to lift an international trophy at VALORANT Masters Bangkok with a thrilling 3-2 grand final victory over G2 Esports.

Furthermore, under the guidance of head coach KDG and Munchkin, T1 made history in 2026 by advancing to their first-ever Champions Playoffs at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Champions Shanghai, ultimately finishing 5th–6th.

The team also secured multiple podium finishes across regional competition, including 2nd-place finishes at VCT Pacific Kickoff in both 2025 and 2026, and 3rd place at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - Pacific Stage 2.

What Remains and What Lies Ahead

Despite the departure of five prominent figures, T1 retains a formidable three-man core on its active player roster: Ham "iZu" Woo-joo, Kim "stax" Gu-taek, and Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul.

With T1 recently announced as an official VCT Partner Team on a two-year contract, the organization holds a guaranteed position in VCT Pacific. With three proven veterans still under contract, T1 now enters the off-season focused on rebuilding a championship-caliber roster around iZu, stax, and BuZz ahead of the 2027 season.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games