Zeus does not re-sign with T1, Doran to join as the new Top Laner

Zeus does not re-sign with T1, Doran to join as the new Top Laner

Foo Zen-Wen

19 Oct, 2024, 17:25

|

Last updated: 9 Apr, 2025, 03:51

Worlds 2023 MVP Choi “Zeus” Woo-je has decided to part ways with T1 following the organization and roster’s second consecutive World Championship victory. In his stead, former Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) Top Laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon will be joining the prestigious organization for the first time in his career.

This move also marks the completion of the T1 roster for the 2025 season. With the successful re-signing of 3 of their 5 members and the retaining of Faker until 2025, Doran formed the final piece to the T1 puzzle. ZOFGK is dead. Long-live DOFGK.

Zeus is the New Ringo

The 20-year-old Top Laner is already one of the most accomplished players in the game and in strong conversation as the best Top Laners in the world - certainly one of the most mechanically gifted.

More than that, Zeus was part of a roster that just 3 weeks ago made history by being the first roster to win not just 2 World Championships, but back-to-back World Championships. With 4 of the 5 T1 members having signed on for the 2025 season as well, it was almost expected that Zeus would follow suit, but it appears he has had his fill and seeks for a new challenge.

Zeus does not re-sign with T1, Doran to join as the new Top Laner
Zeus delivered 3 years of greatness with T1 as one of the best Top Laners in the world. (Credit: Fernando Decillis/Riot Games)

Doran under Unbelievable Pressure

No matter which member of the ZOFGK roster an outside player replaces, the pressure would have been enormous. Despite only winning a single LCK split, ZOFGK successfully lifted the Summoner’s Cup 2 times across their 3-year long run and made all 3 World finals.

Doran, meanwhile, has had the opposite trajectory to Zeus. Since joining Gen.G in 2022, Doran has been in 5 of the 6 LCK Finals (Spring and Summer). He has also won 4 of those 5 finals, 3 of which he did with Gen.G, and the final win during his time with HLE.

However, he has not had the same fortune when it comes to the matter of Worlds. Doran has attended Worlds 4 times in a row, on DRX, twice on Gen.G, and with HLE. He was eliminated in the quarterfinals 3 of those 4 times, and in the semifinals in 2022. Zeus meanwhile, attended Worlds 3 times, reached the finals all 3 times, and won 2 of the 3 times.

The ultimate monkey’s paw in many ways. One can only win domestic titles, the other only internationally. The question is, can Faker and co. finally break Doran’s streak? Or was Zeus the true kingmaker all along?

Doran MSI Gen.G
Once a feared foe across the Rift for T1, Doran now joins their ranks. (Credit: Liu YiCun/Riot Games)

T1 League of Legends 2025 Current Roster

  • Top: Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon
  • Jgl: Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun
  • Mid: Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok
  • ADC: Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong
  • Supp: Ryu "Keria" Min-seok

 

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverages. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

For more League of Legends rostermania news, check out our LEC and LCK rostermania for all the latest shuffles.

Featured Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games


Read More:

Former World Champion Viper re-signs with Hanwha Life Esports for LCK 2025

Berserker and Pyosik join the new Kwangdong Freecs for LCK 2025

Latest news

Cloud9 LoL Announces IWDominate As Head Coach, Adds YamatoCannon and Arrow

Cloud9 LoL Announces IWDominate As Head Coach, Adds YamatoCannon and Arrow

Christian “IWDominate” Rivera has been announced as the new Head Coach for the Cloud9 roster following the departure of former Head Coach Nicholas “Inero” Smith. This move is only the first of a fairly large shuffle for the Cloud9 roster as we see the addition of multiple new assistant coaches as well as 2 new players.
1h
Foo Zen-Wen

New Study Finds 400 Million Gen Z Consumers Regularly Engage With Esports

The numbers are in, and they're hard to argue with. A new whitepaper from ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports, and Niko Partners titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend dropped today, and it paints a picture of an audience that is bigger, more engaged, and more commercially valuable than many brands still realize
19h
Thales Costa

G2 Esports and One Piece Collaborate to Create New Limited-Edition Drop

Esports giant G2 is making another move into the anime fashion space, this time partnering with one of the most beloved franchises in the world. In collaboration with One Piece, G2 has announced a new limited-edition streetwear drop available as of today (June 25).
22h
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Top 10 Players to Watch at MSI 2026

With MSI 2026 just days away, the tournament will offer the chance to watch some of the best League of Legends teams and players clash as they try to outperform one another. Whether it be for their tremendous current form, their potential for growth against international competition, or their sheer antics on and off the Rift, here are our top 10 players to watch at MSI 2026.
25 Jun
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Riot Games' Vanguard Anti-Cheat Now Launches On-Demand: How to Enable It

VALORANT and League of Legends players can now use the Vanguard anti-cheat on demand. Here's how, along with the pre-check requirements.
24 Jun
Adarsh J. Kumar

Hidden Easter Eggs in T1 Worlds 2025 Skins Revealed

T1’s historic third consecutive World Championship victory has been immortalized in League of Legends through one of Riot Games’ most ambitious skin lines to date.
23 Jun
Kaustavmani Choudhury

T1 Worlds 2025 Skins Revealed: Splash Art, Release Date, Price, and More

It has been a long wait, but the T1 Worlds 2025 skins are officially arriving to League of Legends. More than seven months after T1 won a record-shattering third consecutive World Championship, the team's hard-earned skins will finally see the light of day. Let's have a look at the animations, splash arts, price, and release date of the T1 Worlds 2025 skins.
23 Jun
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match