Updated on December 2, 1:03 p.m. (GMT+8): Added statement from T1 CEO Joe Marsh.
T1 finished second at the Worlds 2022 after a hard-fought series that stretched the full five games against DRX.
Out of the five members, only Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok’s contract had expired in November 2022. Based on Riot Games’ official Global Contract Database, the rest of the members are still contracted until November 20, 2023 until the end of next year.
The League of Legends community therefore, has been speculating on where the 26-year-old is going to go: renew his contract with T1, the organization he’s been with since the start of his career, or possibly head to the LCS, where FlyQuest had expressed interest, and Team Liquid had made an offer.
Unsurprisingly, Faker has chosen to stay with T1 — for an additional three years.
- Deft no longer with DRX, joins another World Championship team for LCK 2023
- Former SKT top laner MaRin is Team Liquid’s head coach for LCS 2023
The League of Legends T1 roster for 2023 is still pretty much stacked
Faker’s contract expired on November 21, 2022 which naturally garnered interest from other teams. Part owner of T1 Entertainment and Sports, he’s staying on with the same roster that clinched second at the Worlds 2022 and MSI 2022, proving their immense potential.
His new three-year contract will expire in November 2025.
They will be led by Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong, who was promoted from coach to interim head coach before Worlds started for the duration of the tournament.
This was the first year he had joined the main roster as coach, and he’s already achieved fantastic results, helping the team achieve a first place finish at LCK Spring 2022, and second at LCK Summer and Worlds. Previously, he was head coach of T1 Challengers, the organization’s academy team.
Helping him for LCK 2023 is former T1 pro player Kim “Roach” Kang-hee, who was just promoted from T1 Challengers, Kim “Sky” Ha-neul, SKT’s substitute mid laner in 2017, and Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon, who competed alongside Bengi as a substitute jungler in 2015.
Tom was a coach with Gen.G in 2020, and spent the last two years with PSG Talon.
| T1 ROSTER FOR LCK 2023 | ROLE |
| Choi “Zeus” Woo-je | Top lane |
| Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun | Jungle |
| Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok | Mid lane |
| Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong | Bot lane |
| Ryu “Keria” Min-seok | Support |
| Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong | Head coach |
| Kim “Roach” Kang-hee | Coach |
| Kim “Sky” Ha-neul | Coach |
| Im “Tom” Jae-hyeon | Coach |
“Honored and grateful Faker has chose to spend the next three years at T1! This free agent process was beneficial for both of us and I’m excited for Faker to lead this org for years to come,” CEO Joe Marsh wrote on Twitter.
“T1 is home for Faker. Thank you to the entire Lee family for making this moment possible.”
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