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T1 Reportedly Set to Part Ways With Three Key Players After Champions 2026
T1 are reportedly planning to part ways with three players from their VALORANT roster ahead of the 2027 season. According to a report published by Sheep Esports on Wednesday (October 21), the South Korean organization is expected to release Kim "Meteor" Tae-oh, Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom, and Kang "DH" Dong-ho.
The potential departures come just days after T1 concluded their VALORANT Champions 2026 campaign in Shanghai, China. The team finished in 5th-6th place, their best result in the tournament's history.
Despite the planned roster overhaul, the organization has confirmed its place in the VCT Pacific partnership program for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
BuZz and stax Could Remain With T1 in 2027
According to Sheep Esports, Yu "BuZz" Byung-chul and Kim "stax" Gu-taek are in talks to remain with T1. The organization is interested in retaining both players for the upcoming season.
Ham "iZu" Woo-joo, meanwhile, is already under contract through 2027. If negotiations with BuZz and stax are successful, T1 could retain part of the core roster that competed in major international events throughout 2026.
The contractual situations of the three players reportedly set to depart are different. Meteor and Munchkin have contracts due to expire in 2026, while DH remains under contract through 2027.
As of now, T1 have not officially announced any of the three departures.
Meteor and Munchkin Could Leave T1 After Previous Stints With Gen.G
Munchkin returned to T1 after spending two seasons with Gen.G, taking on the role of in-game leader (IGL). He had previously represented the South Korean organization in 2023.
Meteor also played for Gen.G before joining T1, where he spent two seasons. In 2026, he played an important role in the team's qualification for Champions, particularly through his performances on Chamber.
DH, meanwhile, followed a different path within the organization. After being moved to the academy roster following Champions 2025, he returned to the main lineup during Stage 2 of the 2026 season.
However, his return was short-lived. After recording two wins and two losses with DH in the starting lineup, T1 opted to bring stax back into the starting five.
T1 Confirmed for VCT Pacific 2027
Despite the potential roster changes, T1 will continue competing in the Pacific region's top-tier VALORANT league. The organization is among the eight teams selected for Riot Games' new partnership cycle, covering the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Alongside T1, organizations such as Gen.G, Paper Rex, and ZETA DIVISION are also part of the VCT Pacific partnership program.
For the complete list, including teams from the Americas, EMEA, Pacific, and China, check out our coverage of all VCT 2027 partner teams here on Strafe.
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Featured image credit: Riot Games
Read more:
VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The Unpartnered Dilemma: What VCT 2027 Means for Tier-2 VALORANT Organizations
