This is the bombshell of this offseason. Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan is set to join T1 in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), sources tell Sheep Esports on Monday. He will succeed the three-time consecutive World Champion Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong within the most decorated organization in League of Legends history.

A phenomenon, an immense talent, and a remarkably precocious player, Peyz boasts a résumé at just 19 years old that many veterans would envy: three consecutive LCK titles and a Mid-Season Invitational victory, achievements he earned while wearing the Gen.G jersey at only 17 and 18 years old.

The end of T1 and Gumayusi

T1, for their part, are coming off a year in which they won—if one can even call it “only”—the World Championship for the third consecutive time, securing the sixth title in the organization’s history. It marks the end of an era between T1 and Gumayusi, who part ways after seven long and successful years. The three-time World Champion leaves with glory, and a legacy that will be extremely difficult for his successor to live up to.

The year was far from smooth between Gumayusi and T1. Early in the season, the player was benched by the coaching staff in favor of Shin "Smash" Geum-jae. Following the intervention of T1 CEO Joe Marsh, he was reinstated into the main roster. Gumayusi then went on to prove he was the best AD Carry in the world, capped off by his performance at Worlds and especially in the grand final against KT Rolster, where he received MVP honors.

This departure marks the end of an era—one that had already begun to fade last year with the exit of Choi "Zeus" Woo-je. Now, it is Gumayusi who leaves the ship, and only three players remain from the iconic ZOFGK roster. As a reminder, Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon is also at the end of his contract, and the situation remains uncertain for him, just as it does for Zeus at Hanwha Life Esports. As for Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok, they are still under contract with T1—until 2029 for the GOAT, and until 2026 for the other two.

Return to Korea for Peyz

The 2023 LCK Rookie of the Year is now back home in South Korea. LCK Finals MVP in Spring 2023, LCK Player of the Split in Summer 2024, twice named to the LCK 1st All-Pro Team in 2024, with eleven career pentakills, the youngest botlaner to win an LCK title, and currently holding the record for the most kills in a single match at an international LoL event after racking up 28 kills in Game 2 of the MSI 2024 Finals—he is an absolute monster.

Peyz’s 2025 season did not go as expected. After a difficult 2024 offseason in which Gen.G decided to part ways with him in favor of Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk, all the spots on top teams were already locked, and the young AD Carry ended up joining JD Gaming in the LPL. His first split was promising, with the team finishing third, but things quickly became difficult. He had three different supports, two different toplaners, and multiple head coach changes.

The team ended the Spring Split in 7th–8th place after a loss to Team WE. The Summer Split was somewhat better, with a fourth-place finish that allowed them to play in the Regional Finals. JDG defeated Weibo Gaming to reach the final qualifying and elimination series of the phase, but ultimately fell to Invictus Gaming.

Peyz joining T1 feels almost surreal, given that he was long seen as the future of Gen.G and T1 appeared deeply attached to Gumayusi. Yet it will indeed be Peyz occupying the T1 botlane alongside Keria—a duo that promises to be incredibly exciting to watch, as both players are outstanding and possess extraordinary skills. Aggressive and creative, they will very likely form the best botlane in the world and one to watch, both in the LCK and at international events.