Zeus Takes Massive Pay Cut to Stay with Worlds-Winning T1 Roster

In the world of esports, Choi ‘Zeus’ Woo-je, the top laner for T1 and the MVP of Worlds 2023, has been at the center of many off-season roster discussions. Fans and analysts alike have been speculating whether he will stick with T1 or take off to another team. However, according to a leak from Chinese esports personality and former coach HanYi, Zeus took a significant pay cut to stay with T1.

Despite offers on the table that doubled the salary T1 offered him, Zeus chose to stick around and build his future with T1. This decision is a relief to T1 fans, who were worried about losing the top lane prodigy. With Gumayusi and Keria up for free agency following the win, Zeus was the player who many were most concerned would leave.

T1 reportedly sticks together as Zeus declines massive LPL paycheck

T1’s Worlds-winning roster has been a dominant force in the League of Legends esports scene. Despite being one of the best teams in the world every year, they were often dethroned by other teams that would power spike their way to the top. However, T1 finally took it all to cap off 2023, winning the World Championship and securing their spot as one of the best teams in the world.

It was no surprise that T1 would likely have been looking to switch things up if they didn’t succeed this year and finally get a win with the roster. But they did. According to HanYi via Weibo, Zeus took a massive pay cut to stick around. “All members of T1 have renewed their contracts. Zeus’ annual final salary is half that of the Chinese team.” While it’s safe to assume Zeus is still getting paid fairly well to stick with T1, taking half the pay to stick with a team is a move many T1 fans admire.

All T1 players stay together in the team

However, a conflicting rumor came out that provided a glimpse into T1’s player salaries that runs counter to previous reports that Zeus was getting more from the LPL. According to rumors, Hanwha Life Esports offered Zeus 3.5 million for him to play alongside fellow world champions Viper and Zeka, and JDG offered him 3.7 million. However, it also claims that T1 offered him even more at 4.2 million.

This source also claims that Faker’s contract is worth almost 6 million, Guma’s re-signed contract is around 2.5 million, Keria’s worth around 1.3 mil (an amount many fans feel is insanely low for Keria’s level of skill), and Kkoma’s contract as coach is 1 million.

It remains to be seen just how much Zeus was offered as other teams tried to snatch T1 players, but it appears T1 has one of if not the most expensive rosters in the LCK after the likely re-signing of all their players.

For now, it seems that T1 will be sticking together despite the massive and ongoing roster upheaval sweeping across the entire LCK. Whether any team that gets put together can contest T1 remains to be seen.