T1 enters Worlds 2026 as the three-time defending champion but arrives as Korea’s third seed after a mixed 2026 LCK campaign that ended in a playoff loss to Hanwha Life Esports. The roster features a new bot lane pairing with Peyz replacing Gumayusi alongside Doran, Oner, Faker, and Keria, contributing to adjustment issues evident in a fifth-sixth place MSI finish and fourth at the Esports World Cup. Gen.G and Hanwha Life Esports posted stronger domestic results, while T1’s regular-season inconsistencies and vulnerability in international events have shaped trader consensus that a fourth consecutive title is improbable despite the team’s historical playoff resilience.