Before the formation of the famed ZOFGK roster—comprising Zeus, Mun "
Oner" Hyeon-jun, Lee "
Faker" Sang-hyeok, Lee "
Gumayusi" Min-hyeong, and Ryu "
Keria" Min-seok—T1 went through a long period of struggle and inconsistency, marked by repeated failures. The arrival of this quintet defined the competitive landscape for years: two LCK finals in 2023, a podium finish at MSI, and
a Worlds victory.
In 2024, the team remained at the top with another Spring final, podium finishes at MSI and Summer, culminating in
another Worlds title. This roster spent three remarkable years together and was expected to continue for a fourth—if not for
the drama between Zeus, his agency, and T1.
The toplaner has since joined Hanwha Life Esports, while
T1 brought in Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon.
After three Worlds finals appearances with T1, including 2023 where he earned Finals MVP, Zeus will make his fourth Worlds run with
HLE in a stacked roster. The team features Han "Peanut" Wang-ho in his final season, two former world champion carries in Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo and Park "Viper" Do-hyeon, and one of the game's top supports, Yoo "Delight" Hwan-joong. Zeus’ mission: to prove he can perform beyond the T1 banner.
The same goes for T1, who must now prove that this new generation can win without their legendary toplaner. Oner, Keria, and Gumayusi remain to support their mentor Faker, and while their new toplaner has never lifted a Summoner’s Cup, Doran is no stranger to success. A four-time Korean champion, he will make his fifth Worlds appearance and must hold his lane against Kang "
TheShy" Seung-lok and
Invictus Gaming in the Play-In to reach the Main Stage. His challenge: show that T1 was not built on Zeus alone and that he, too, ranks among the world’s best tops, proudly carrying the heaviest jersey in esports, T1’s.
