T1 Announces Apology Stream Over Zeus Transfer Dispute

The situation surrounding Choi "Zeus" Woo-je’s departure from T1, once thought to be settled, has resurfaced. On Wednesday, T1 announced a livestream scheduled for 10 PM KST (3 PM CET), where the organization will officially address and apologize for the “Zeus situation,” likely in relation to his controversial transfer to Hanwha Life Esports. On November 19, 2024, Zeus — then considered the world’s best toplaner and a two-time world champion — made a surprising move to T1’s direct rival. In return, Choi "Doran" Hyeon-jun joined T1.

The transfer made waves for several reasons. It marked the end of the legendary ZOFGK roster, which had reached three consecutive Worlds finals and won two. At the same time, the remaining members — Keria, Oner, and Gumayusi — had just renewed their contracts with the organization. However, the situation gained further attention due to a public dispute between T1 and Zeus’s agency, THE PLAY. Both parties reportedly wished to continue working together, but failed to reach a timely agreement on salary before HLE ’s offer expired.

Dispute Over Timeline

T1 claimed that THE PLAY failed to submit a counter-offer before the November 19 deadline. In response, the agency released documents showing that negotiations were ongoing from November 12 to 19, and ultimately ended at 3:30 PM KST — thirty minutes after HLE’s deadline.

In March, a report by Iven confirmed THE PLAY’s version of events. According to the article, T1 submitted their final offer at 3:10 PM, received a counter-offer, but rejected it. Zeus then accepted HLE’s proposal. The report also clarified that THE PLAY did not receive any commission from the transfer, contradicting T1 CEO Joe Marsh’s earlier claims that the agency had prioritized profit over the player’s interests.