T1 VALORANT Promote DH To Main Roster For VCT Pacific Stage 2

T1 have promoted Kang “DH” Dong-ho (강동호) to their main VALORANT roster ahead of VCT Pacific Stage 2, the organisation confirmed on 6 July 2026. The move brings the 20-year-old back to the senior side one year after he was first called up from T1 Academy, and marks the second time the org has turned to him to reshape its starting five.

T1 framed the promotion as a fresh addition to the lineup, but it leaves an open question over who drops out of a roster already deep in flexible players.

Call-up, ‘DH’

T1A의 ‘DH’ 강동호 선수가 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 2부터 T1 VALORANT팀에 합류합니다.
팀에 새로운 바람을 일으킬 ‘DH’ 선수에게 많은 응원 부탁드립니다.

‘DH’ has been called up from T1A to join the T1 VALORANT starting from the 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 2. Please show your… pic.twitter.com/FWv5FlxXJc

— T1 VALORANT (@T1) July 6, 2026

DH Returns One Year After His First T1 Promotion

DH first joined T1’s main roster during a rough patch in VCT 2025 Pacific Stage 1, when the org promoted him to primary Controller and benched Sylvan just months after the team lifted the trophy at Masters Bangkok 2025. He settled in quickly, helping T1 close out the regional calendar with a fourth-place finish in Stage 2 before the side reached the group stage at Champions Paris. He was then sent back to T1 Academy in the offseason to make room for Byeon “Munchkin” Sang-beom.

A Whirlwind 2026 Season For DH

DH’s 2026 has been anything but steady. While competing in Challengers Korea Stage 1, he sustained injuries in a car accident and stepped away from the game, and was initially ruled out for the rest of the season. He returned in time for Stage 2, this time playing the Duelist role for T1 Academy, but had been out of action since the team’s second match of the group stage before this promotion.

Who Could Be Benched To Make Room For DH

T1 have not confirmed who will drop out for DH, and the answer hinges on how the team stacks its roles. Much of the flexibility runs through Ham “iZu” Woo-ju, whose ability to play all four agent roles to a high level makes him difficult to leave out.

Should Munchkin stay on as Controller and in-game leader, Kim “Meteor” Tae-oh remain on Sentinel, and Yu “BuZz” Byeong-cheol continue as the primary Duelist, the narrower agent pool of veteran Kim “stax” Gu-taek could leave him the odd man out, with iZu or Munchkin picking up the Initiator role as needed.

A Roster Built For Rare Flexibility

DH’s promotion could see T1 adopt a level of flexibility rarely seen in VCT. The projected starting five would field four players capable of playing the Duelist role in some capacity, along with three who have played Omen at the VCT level. With military service an issue every Korean pro between the ages of 18 and 28 must address, the 20-year-old DH gives T1 a way to manage seamless transitions as players enlist.

T1’s Full VALORANT Roster

DH joins the main roster from VCT 2026 Pacific Stage 2, with T1 yet to confirm the final starting five he slots into.