There can be thousands of League of Legends players in the world, yet not many possess the talent to be on stage. T1 steadily built its dynasty by gathering promising talents in their team that won back-to-back World Championships. However, they’ll have to pick up the pieces again as Zeus departs from the team. This time, Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon will lend his talent to T1 to play as top laner for the 2025 season. But who is really Doran in the League of Legends esports scene?
Filling Massive Shoes: The Challenge Ahead
He might be carrying massive rocks behind his back as the 2025 competitive season begins. It will not be an easy job for Doran to fill in the void left by the world-calibre talent, Zeus. The T1’s former top laner was renowned for his exceptional landing prowess and carrying potential. Moreover, he has been a consistent player for T1 despite being in crucial matches that made him standout.
With his departure, T1, in turn, signed one of the reliable and consistent top-lane performers in the LCK. This 24 year old seasoned LCK veteran, Doran is known for his consistent performances. His plays aren’t flashy as one expects yet his experience put him miles ahead.
Certainly, this lad will not immediately match Zeus’s individual brilliance. But T1 believes that eventually he’ll breakthrough his potential as he competes with the team.
A Champion’s Pedigree: Doran’s Recent Achievements
The news of signing Doran garnered varying reactions from the community. Some show understanding while others question T1’s move on signing him. But why did T1 really choose Doran as their top laner for the upcoming season?
While his name doesn’t appear as frequent as other popular top laners, he remains on the radar as a stable performer. Doran boasts impressive credentials that are sufficient to put him on T1’s list. He was part of the roster that won the current LCK Summer 2024 champion, Hanwha Life Esports.
Besides, he has a couple more championship victories under his name from the highly competitive LCK. This includes the Summer 2022, both split in 2023, and the recent Summer 2024. This shows how perfectly capable he is at performing consistently in tournaments. Given this, he also had set foot in the World Championship stages numerous times.
Rebuilding Regional Supremacy: A Clear Mission
With Doran’s arrival in the team, he’ll be joining the core lineup consisting of Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, and Keria. What is important for T1 is to have Doran seamlessly blend in with the team dynamics. Rather than individual skill, he should be able to build chemistry with the rest of the roster. This is necessary for them to execute smoother gameplay strategies and playstyle as they head into the Summoner’s Rift.
Also, his one-year contract in T1 highly suggests an evaluation period to determine whether he’ll fit with the team. Besides the confidence to adapt with the team, Doran might be the missing key for T1 to win the regional league. It seems that the organization is making moves to reclaim their LCK regional title.
Since the Spring 2022, T1 hasn’t won a domestic championship and struggles throughout the LCK season. Perhaps Doran’s championship experience will bring a shift to the team’s performance and push them on top once again.
Conclusion: A Calculated Gamble
You lose some yet; you’ll also earn some. T1 gambled on Doran’s League of Legends experience upon signing him in the team. Technically, he may not be as spectacular as Zeus was known to be, but he is a veteran that consistently performs. His multiple LCK championships are the testament to his exemplary skills as a top laner. This alone is sufficient for T1 to put their faith and trust in him for the 2025 season.
