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A Familiar Face Returns to T1

T1 has officially welcomed back Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom to its VALORANT roster for the 2026 VCT season, marking the veteran’s return to the organisation after two years away. The move sees rookie Controller player Kang “DH” Dong-ho shifted to the academy squad, opening the door for one of Korea’s most experienced in-game leaders to step in.

The signing was revealed through T1’s announcement post, where the team said Munchkin would “soar to even greater heights” with the squad next year.

A Proven Talent with a Trophy-Filled Career

Munchkin rejoins T1 after spending the past two seasons with Gen.G, where he played a key role in the team’s rise through the Pacific region. During his 2024 and 2025 run, he lifted multiple titles, including Pacific Kickoff, Stage 2, and Masters Shanghai, while also securing runner-up finishes at Masters Madrid and several regional stages.

Although Gen.G struggled to match their 2024 dominance this year, Munchkin remained one of the region’s most reliable and versatile players. Known for his standout Viper on double-Controller comps and his flexibility across Initiator and Sentinel roles, he now returns to T1 with a wealth of high-level experience.

This is not his first appearance in red and black. Munchkin previously played for T1 during the organisation’s inaugural VCT partnership season, alongside several former Cloud9 Korea and OWL talents, including carpe and Sayaplayer.

Why T1 Made the Change

T1’s 2025 season was a mixed bag. They opened the year strong, finishing second at Pacific Kickoff before winning Masters Bangkok with a tight 3–2 victory over G2 Esports. However, the momentum dipped as the year went on. The team exited early in Pacific Stage 1, fell short at the Esports World Cup Pacific Qualifier, and later bowed out of Stage 2.

Despite the inconsistency, T1 earned enough points to reach VALORANT Champions Paris, but the run ended in the group stage behind Team Heretics and G2.

During the offseason, the team experimented with role swaps, including DH moving to Initiator and stax shifting to Controller. The changes were not enough to deliver stability, resulting in a 5th–6th finish at Red Bull Homeground and a strategic reset behind the scenes. Both head coach Autumn and coach Indigo departed, with former academy coach KDG moving into the top coaching role.

Bringing Munchkin back signals a return to a more seasoned and structured approach heading into 2026.

DH Moves to T1 Academy

Alongside the big signing, T1 confirmed that DH has been reassigned to T1 Academy. Having joined the organisation in May, the young Controller helped guide the squad through VCT 2025 Pacific Stage 2 and into Champions Paris.

Reactions from fans have been mixed, but T1 has encouraged supporters to back DH as he continues to develop within the academy system.

What Munchkin Brings to the 2026 Line-Up

Munchkin’s versatility and leadership make him a strong fit for T1’s evolving structure. His long-time synergy with Meteor, who served as Gen.G’s Sentinel during the team’s dominant 2024 season, gives the squad a familiar backbone to build around.

With KDG now leading the coaching staff, T1 appears to be aiming for a more experienced foundation as it prepares for the challenges of the 2026 VCT Pacific season.

T1’s Updated VALORANT Roster for 2026

  • Kim “stax” Gu-taek
  • Kim “Meteor” Tae-oh
  • Yu “BuZz” Byeong-cheol
  • Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom
  • Ham “iZu” Woo-ju
  • Lee “carpe” Jae-hyeok
  • Shin “Norman” Jun-ho, Manager
  • Kim “KDG” Dong-gun, Head coach
  • Lee “CheongGak” Il-ho, Coach

With a veteran returning, a rising prospect developing in academy, and a refreshed coaching staff, T1 enters 2026 with a recalibrated roster and renewed expectations.