VALORANT: T1 officially part ways with Sylvan

After being moved off T1’s active roster back in May, the Korean organization has officially announced its separation with Ko “Sylvan” Young-sub this Wednesday, October 8. The player’s contract has now been terminated while, according to the Global Contract Database, it was originally set to run through 2026.

Sylvan, who returned to top-tier VALORANT competition when he joined T1 is now officially a free agent. Despite a relatively brief tenure with the Korean powerhouse, he leaves with an interesting achievement that will undoubtedly strengthen his resume heading into the offseason.

In fact, in just a few months with the organization, Sylvan managed to accomplish what every player dreams of: winning an international trophy. After finishing second in the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific Kickoff, T1 qualified for the year’s first global event, the Masters Bangkok.

There, after being sent to the Lower Bracket in their opening playoff match, T1 mounted an incredible run — defeating Team Vitality (2–1), EDward Gaming (3–1), and G2 Esports (3–2) — to claim the first international title in the organization’s VALORANT history.

However, following their Bangkok triumph, both Sylvan and T1 struggled to maintain that momentum. Upon their return to the VCT Pacific, the team finished 7th–8th in Stage 1, falling in the opening round of playoffs after losses to DRX and Paper Rex.

Following that disappointing result, T1 decided to make roster adjustments. Sylvan was moved to the inactive lineup, while Kang “DH” Dong-ho was promoted from T1 Academy (Challengers League) to the main roster.

Now a free agent, Sylvan will have the opportunity to explore new teams ahead of the 2026 VCT season. His time with T1 has given him valuable international experience, both within and outside Korea.

Before joining T1, Sylvan had already played abroad, including a stint with Top Esports in China, back in 2023. Just before this, he also had a shot to play at the top-tier level with a short tenure at Gen.G in the Pacific league. These are experiences that could be valuable for him to find a new team for next year.