TenZ and crashies revamp T1’s roster for 2027, Sacy set to steer the ship

T1 has ripped up its 2026 playbook, slapping two global stars and a proven head coach onto its 2027 VCT Pacific roster.

A blockbuster roster shake‑up

In their place, T1 announced the signings of Tyson “TenZ” Ngo and Austin “crashies” Roberts as imports. Both veterans bring Masters titles: TenZ lifted Reykjavik 2021 and Madrid 2024 with Sentinels, while crashies captured Reykjavik 2022 with OpTic Gaming.

The Korean core that remains – duelist Yu “BuZz” Byung‑chul, IGL Kim “stax” Gu‑taek and flex player Ham “iZu” Woo‑ju – will anchor the new squad.

Legends return and new fire

TenZ is emerging from retirement, having stepped away from professional play in September 2024. Crashies, a former Fnatic, NRG and OpTic stalwart, makes his third regional leap, having already competed in VCT Americas and EMEA. His résumé includes four Champions appearances and a run to the 2025 Paris final with Fnatic, though he missed all three 2026 internationals.

The coaching overhaul is just as dramatic. Brazilian Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi, fresh off a Champions 2022 win with LOUD and a Masters Madrid 2024 triumph with Sentinels, is set to become T1’s first official head coach. Sacy and TenZ were teammates during the Madrid victory, giving the roster a familiar synergy.

a proven track record and countless accolades under his belt

sungmin

Sungmin returns to the bench, having guided T1 Academy to an Ascension title in 2025 and previously helped Sin Prisa Gaming clinch the same trophy in 2024. He will work alongside Sacy, forming a coaching tandem that blends Korean experience with international success.

Stakes at the Kickoff

T1’s revamped line‑up bypasses open qualifiers, receiving a direct invite to the VCT Pacific Kickoff as a partnered team. Their performance there will determine whether they earn a slot at Masters Seoul, the first international event of 2027.

After a year the team felt “behind the meta,” iZu admitted, the organization is betting that the infusion of global talent and championship‑winning leadership will close the gap.