T1 Meteor on facing Vitality in playoffs: "When we scrimmed them, I had a really good feeling"
T1 player Kim "Meteor" Tae-o named Team Vitality as his preferred playoff opponent after his team secured a spot in the knockout stage of VALORANT Champions 2026. During an on-stage post-match interview following their victory over FUT Esports, he discussed the team's timeout on Sunset, credited his teammates for his consistency, and explained why he wants to face Vitality.
Refocusing during the Sunset timeout
Regarding the timeout that preceded T1's eco-round win on Sunset, Meteor explained that the team identified a shift in FUT's approach. The discussion focused on responding to faster attacks while maintaining their own strategic style.
“We noticed that FUT changed their playstyle into rush settings, so we were talking about how we should deal with it. We also talked about how important it would be to play our own game instead of playing their game,” he said.
Teammates make the difference
When asked about maintaining his consistency—referencing his two Masters titles—Meteor credited the quality of his teammates and their support during difficult moments, noting that having teammates who "have my back" is crucial.
Vitality as his preferred opponent
Before the playoff draw, Meteor expressed a desire to face Vitality, citing a positive feeling from their previous practice matches (scrims).
T1 reached the playoffs by defeating FUT Esports 2:0 in the Group A decider, following a 2:1 victory over JD Gaming after an initial loss to 100 Thieves. VALORANT Champions 2026 is taking place in Shanghai with a $2,250,000 prize pool, with the playoffs scheduled to begin on October 7.
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