Doran Sets an “Unprecedented” Record in Worlds History
At the beginning of 2025, after joining T1, Doran faced countless doubts. Despite previously winning the LCK Summer 2025 with HLE and even defeating rivals Gen.G, many believed Doran could not measure up to Zeus or Kiin. Yet, Doran ultimately led T1 to victory at Worlds 2025. This is Doran’s first Worlds championship and makes him the first player in history to win the tournament after defeating his former team.
Specifically, in the 15-year history of Worlds, no player has ever won the tournament against their former team. However, for a player like Doran, who has been a part of many top-tier teams, this achievement stands out in his career, as KT is also his former team. Notably, with Gen.G and HLE in the opposite bracket during the Knockout stage, any of the three teams—HLE, KT, or Gen.G—reaching the finals would still give Doran this milestone.
Doran is also a highly watched name in the post-Worlds 2025 transfer market
After what may be the most glorious and memorable achievement in his career, Doran is also a player whose contract with T1, along with Gumayusi, is set to expire. However, the likelihood of Doran remaining with T1 is very high. He is accustomed to the new environment, and more importantly, T1 does not have many quality options for the toplaner position. Moreover, a newcomer would take time to adapt, potentially jeopardizing T1’s goals for 2026.
Therefore, extending Doran’s contract may just be a matter of time, with T1 likely to make an official announcement in the coming days as his contract expiration approaches.