Worlds 2026 T1 Preview: More History On the Cards For the Greatest League of Legends Team?
The countdown to Worlds 2026 has begun. To start the hype for the international event, we are looking at every team in the tournament. The defending World Champions return to the Worlds stage. They are back, eyeing their fourth consecutive victory. They have looked shaky this year, but how different is that from previous years? Will the T1 magic grab hold of them once more?
T1’s Roster
- Choi “Doran” Hyeon-jun – Korean Top Laner
- Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun – Korean Jungler
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok – Korean Mid Laner
- Kim “Peyz” Soo-hwan – Korean Bot Laner
- Ryu “Keria” Min-seok – Korean Support
For the second year in a row, a vital T1 member left the roster. Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyung left the team after spending his career with the organisation. Peyz replaced him, and the team’s playstyle has shifted. Peyz has become the focal point of this roster.
The Circus in Town
The circus moniker has followed T1 in the past few years. Watching this team is never easy. In some scenarios, they make the perfect play, and they leave their opponents in the dust. Moments later, one mistake turns into many, and T1 falters. The we are so back, it is doomed meme fits this team like a glove. Fans both love and hate watching them. But when Worlds rolls around, something shifts. It is not immediate, either.
T1 has not looked that dominant in the Swiss Stage. In 2023, they lost to Gen.G Esports. 2024 started horribly as they fell to Top Esports, whom they would later beat 3-0 in the Quarterfinals. T1 were on the brink of elimination in 2025. They lost to Gen.G Esports and CTBC Flying Oyster in the Swiss Stage. They then beat 100 Thieves and Movistar KOI to reach the bracket stage. But neither was convincing. But then, all of a sudden, they turned a corner. They beat an in-form Anyone’s Legend, made Top Esports look like fools, and stopped KT Rolster’s miracle run. Will the same happen this year?
Key Player – Kim “Peyz” Soo-hwan
A Dominant Force
Despite T1’s struggles, Peyz kept them clinging to the top. He and Keria are a fearsome duo. Give them almost any bot lane, and they will find a way to carry. That said, we saw what happens when Peyz misses the mark. He was not at his best in both series losses to Hanwha Life Esports.
He started well in the Upper Bracket, but tailed off. He was at fault for a couple of fights in the rematch. That is less of a strike against Peyz. It reflects how dominant he has been. One mistake is a drop in performance for the young AD carry. If the rest of the roster can rally around him, will they become unstoppable? That possibility is likely. Oner, Faker, and Keria have done it before.
T1’s Expectations
Predicting them is nigh impossible. Based on recent performances, they should not be the favorites. But we have said that for the past three years. No one expected them to win, but they defied all logic. You can never count them out. Caedrel noted in a recent video that “You’re kind of a fool to bet on them, but you’re also a fool to bet against them.” Who knows which T1 will show up. If they make the bracket stage, they can do it again. Their form in the Swiss Stage does not matter. They can shift into high gear in a moment.
Swiss Stage Beginnings
They start in the Swiss Stage this year. they will feature in Pool 3 for the Round 1 draw. That will face a team from Pool 2.
Potential Opponents
Hanwha Life Esports is the only Pool 2 team that they will not face. They might play Team Secret Whales, CBLOL’s first seed, or Bilibili Gaming.
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