T1 announces plans to expand into Dota 2, signs Forev

One of esports’ most iconic brands is expanding into Dota 2.

T1, an organization tied to League of Legends’ SK Telecom T1, has revealed that it is entering into the other big MOBA title on the block. The first step in that is the announcement of the signing of Lee “Forev” Sang-don.

T1 is a joint venture between SK Telecom T1 and Comcast Spectacor, a holdings group that includes multiple traditional sports franchises based in Philadelphia as well as Overwatch League’s Philadelphia Fusion. The organization seeks to bring SK Telecom T1’s recognizable and winning brand across the entire esports industry.

It was revealed earlier this year with the signing of its new Apex Legends team. In the months since, it has signed players in a number of other titles including Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The organization has been adding players from both South Korea and the United States.

The addition of Forev gives T1 many options when it comes to this new team.

Forever starts T1 in Dota 2

Forev is best known for his run with MVP Phoenix from 2013 to 2016. Since then, he has competed with a number of international teams, including Digital Chaos and J.Storm.

He recently competed in the qualifiers to The International 2019 with Team Jinesbrus, a squad that also included former MVP.Phoenix players Park “March” Tae-won and Kim “Febby” Yong-min. The team came just one game short of qualifying for the event, falling to Mineski 3-2 in the qualifier finals.

Forev is the only confirmed player on the lineup. It is unclear if they have signed Team Jinesbrus or if T1 will be a whole new team.

Regardless of which direction T1 decides to go in, they will be positioned for success.

The Dota 2 scenes of both Southeast Asia and North America have been savaged by roster changes this season. Top organizations Evil Geniuses and Fnatic have managed to remain competitive throughout the year, but everyone beneath them has been struggling to hold momentum as their rosters constantly fluctuate.

There is a void in both regions and T1 is well-positioned to capitalize on it.

The International 2019 is still underway, but early September is likely to bring major shakeups to the Dota 2 scene. Expect a full lineup to be revealed around that time.