Choi Woo Je, known as Zeus, has officially left T1 and chosen Hanwha Life Esports as his next team.
On Wednesday, Hanwha Life Esports confirmed the signing, announcing, “Zeus Choi Woo Je will join us as our new top laner. Together, with Zeus on board for the 2025 season, Hanwha Life Esports will be aiming higher, taking on even greater challenges. We look forward to your continued support and enthusiasm, fans.”
With Choi Woo Je’s transfer, Hanwha Life Esports, fresh off their victory in the LCK Summer split, has completed their formidable roster, now known as ZeOGuKe (Zeus, Peanut, Zeka, Viper, Delight).
On Tuesday, Choi Woo Je entered free agency, bringing an end to his time at T1, where he had been since his trainee days. His departure signals the close of the legendary ZeOGuKe lineup—a team that etched its name in history by winning back-to-back World Championship titles.
Zeus Addresses Sudden Contract Termination
The news of Choi Woo Je’s unexpected contract termination surprised many, including T1’s loyal fanbase. Conflicting statements from T1 management and Choi’s agency only deepened the confusion surrounding the situation.
To address the situation, Choi Woo Je took to Instagram on Wednesday, saying, “The announcement of my free agency came much sooner than I had anticipated, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to say my goodbyes as I would have liked properly.” He continued, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play alongside such talented teammates since my days as a trainee, and I’m truly thankful to T1 for all the opportunities they gave me.”
In his post, Choi Woo Je also expressed gratitude to the coaching staff, managers, and teammates he worked closely with during his time at T1 and reiterated his apologies to the fans who were shocked by the transfer news.
He concluded, “I’ve learned so much during my time at T1, and I’ll continue to grow as a player on my new team. I will always strive to improve and work on my weaknesses.”
Choi Woo Je, who made his LCK debut in 2021 as a promising young talent from T1’s academy, quickly rose to prominence. In his rookie year, he helped T1 win the LCK Spring title, claimed gold in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and finished runner-up at the 2022 World Championship.
In 2023, Choi Woo Je solidified his place as one of the top players in the world, being named Finals MVP at the 2023 World Championship, where T1 clinched yet another world title.
As for T1’s future, the organization has signed Choi Hyeon Joon, known as Doran, from Hanwha Life Esports as their new top laner. With this change, T1 will begin a new chapter with the revamped DoOpeGuKe lineup (Doran, Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, Keria), setting their sights on another year of success.
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