DH is Back on T1’s Main VALORANT Roster

After cementing a legacy in League of Legends, South Korean org T1 is making moves in another Riot Games title. As the team’s VALORANT performance is gaining repute, its roster is shifting. T1 has just promoted DH back to its main lineup. Let’s explore everything to know about the decision, and how it affects the team’s esports presence.

T1 VALORANT Moves DH Back to Main Roster

On the evening of July 5, 2026, T1 Esports’ VALORANT team revealed it had added another player, Kang “DH” Dong-ho, to its VCT roster. The announcement arrived on the organization’s X.com page, captioned in both English and Korean.

In the post, T1 writes: “‘DH’ has been called up from T1A to join the T1 VALORANT starting from the 2026 VCT Pacific Stage 2. Please show your support for ‘DH’ as he steps up to bring a fresh new breeze to the team!”

Notably, DH has been promoted from T1’s academy team. Typically, an org’s Academy helps foster talent in younger, less experienced players with the goal of graduating them to the main roster. Academy teams often scrim against and learn from VODs of the main string, so they come with the added benefit of integrating smoothly into their playstyle.

DH is a familiar face. He originally joined T1 VAL in May 2025, competing in several events. However, the organization “sent [him] down” to the Academy roster to “hone his skills further” in November.

What Does This Mean for VALORANT Esports?

DH’s promotion occurs shortly before VCT Stage 2, the final split in the VALORANT Champions Tour’s season-long regional competition. It’s a crucial time period in the VALORANT calendar, since VCT Stage 2 winners automatically qualify for VALORANT Champions, the most important event of the year.

T1 found its footing in 2025, showing some strong performances. The organization won Masters Bangkok, beating fearsome foes like G2 Esports, EDward Gaming, and Team Vitality in direct matchups. As they fight through VCT Pacific 2026, they’re also showing some decent results: T1 placed 2nd at Kickoff and 4th in Stage 1.

T1’s Masters Bangkok win made them one of the few organizations to hold S-Tier trophies in multiple Riot Games titles. The team is known for dominating the League of Legends circuit, winning Worlds 2025 in the same year.

VALORANT’s Pacific region has some fierce competition. Paper Rex, which has plenty of accolades and won Masters London 2026, is in the mix. Masters Santiago winners Nongshim RedForce are rising stars, and DRX has a long-standing organizational history. T1 will have to play at their best to progress, but they are in a decent position to stand head-to-head with these rivals in Stage 2.