As
VCT Pacific Stage 2 is set to begin on July 16,
T1 are preparing to make a roster change before entering the competition. According to sources close to
Sheep Esports, academy player Kang “
DH” Dong-ho is expected to make his return to the main roster.
The player's situation is similar to that of last year. A member of T1 Academy since 2025, he was promoted to the main roster during Stage 2 to replace Ko “
Sylvan” Young-sub and went on to compete at the
VALORANT Champions in Paris with his team after securing a fourth-place finish in Stage 2, despite being only 19 years old at the time.
Despite his impressive first stint with T1, the Korean organization chose to keep him within their academy roster at the beginning of the year while continuing to view him as an important piece for the future. This year, the player has continued to demonstrate his talent in Tier 2 following the experience he gained at the highest level of international competition. During Challengers Korea Split 1, he was notably named MVP of the tournament and has continued to deliver strong performances throughout Stage 2.
During his first spell with T1, DH primarily stood out in the Controller role, with Omen remaining the agent he has played the most throughout his still-young career. However, with T1 Academy, the player has developed experience across multiple roles, notably as a Duelist since the beginning of Stage 2 and as a Sentinel during the first split, meaning his exact role within the main roster remains uncertain.
The Korean organization is currently in a strong position to qualify for Champions in Shanghai. With 10 Championship Points, T1 currently sit in third place in Pacific and will likely be pleased to have seen their closest competitors,
FULL SENSE and
Global Esports, fall short at
Masters London. The team had started the season well with a second-place finish at Kickoff, securing a place at
Masters Santiago, although they failed to reach the playoffs. After losing to FULL SENSE and Paper Rex in the Stage 1 playoffs, T1 ultimately finished fourth, one step away from qualifying for London. A result deemed insufficient by the organization, which has now decided to make a change ahead of the remainder of the season.
