T1 has signed the VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai champion and VCT 2024 Masters Madrid grand finalist Kim "Meteor" Tae-o to compete in the VCT 2025 campaign.
On October 7, Gen.G Esports announced the conclusion of the contracts of three of their players, including Kim "Lakia" Jong-min, Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom, and Meteor. Only five days later, Meteor's team for the VCT 2025 has been revealed.
The South Korean is T1's second signing this week after the arrival of Ko "Sylvan" Young-sub. Curiously enough, both Sylvan and Meteor played together in the VCT 2023 Pacific League under Gen.G Esports.
After spending the 2021 season competing under TNL Esports in the VCT 2021 Korea Challengers, Meteor joined the Japanese competitive scene after signing for Northeption. Five months after his debut there, the player made his international debut with a Top 10 finish at the VCT 2022 Masters Copenhagen.
His final top-flight performance for the Japanese roster was at the VCT 2022 East Asia Last Chance Qualifier as defeats against EDward Gaming and On Sla2ers saw them missing out on the Valorant Champions 2022. Eventually, the Chinese organization clinched the spot to represent the region in Istanbul, Turkey.
Following his one-year spell in the Japanese scene, Meteor signed for Gen.G Esports in what was the start of the VCT Partnership era. After a 0-2 defeat against LOUD at the VCT 2023 LOCK//IN São Paulo, the South Korean lineup was knocked out of the competition in the team's first and only match in Brazil.
Unfortunately for them, a fourth-place finish at the VCT 2023 Pacific and two defeats against Team Secret in the VCT 2023 Pacific Last Chance Qualifier saw the South Korean lineup missing out on the Valorant Champions 2023 played in Los Angeles, California.
Gen.G Esports and Meteor's best season came in 2024 as the team's first-place finish at the VCT 2024 Pacific Kickoff was followed by a 2-3 defeat against Sentinels at the VCT 2024 Masters Madrid grand final. Only two months and a half later, the South Korean players redeemed themselves as they won the VCT 2024 Masters Shanghai. Shortly after, Gen.G Esports were also crowned VCT 2024 Pacific champions.
Unfortunately for them, against all of the odds, the international champions couldn't survive the group stage and were knocked out of the Valorant Champions 2024 after falling against Sentinels.