Seoul (August 18, 2021) – T1 Entertainment & Sports today announced the launch of ‘T1 Esports Academy’ (TEA) in Seoul early next month.

TEA will first offer courses in League of Legends before expanding to other games. It will uniquely provide students with lane-specific classes - the mid lane to be taught by Kim ‘Sky’ Ha-neul and the top lane by Park ‘Untara’ Ui-jin, both former SK Telecom T1 pro-gamers. Other lanes and instructors will be added to the curriculum shortly.

TEA will start with students that are aspiring professional gamers. The “Path to Pro” (PTP) program is a 20-week curriculum that consists of the following stages: th\e Assessment Period (4 weeks), Phase I (8 weeks), Phase II (6 weeks), and Final Evaluation (2 weeks). Students that pass all the requirements will be given a chance to audition for a spot in the T1 Rookies, the semi-pro team below the Challengers team. 

Additionally, there will be more diverse classes opening later this year for casual gamers looking to improve their skills, one of which will be the “Path to Improvement” (PTI) program. This will offer fun and enjoyable learning experiences for leisure players that make up the majority of the LoL population in Korea. TEA’s PTP and PTI programs together will further bolster up the solid foundation for esports not only in Korea but for the rest of the world.

​T1 CEO Joe Marsh said, “The plan to open up T1 Esports Academy has been in the pipeline for quite some time now. T1’s long-standing history of recruiting and nurturing the best young talent sets TEA apart from other academies. I’m excited T1 will be able to help identify and develop the next generation of LoL stars.”

​He ​added, “Hiring former SK Telecom T1 pro-gamers ’Sky' and 'Untara' as instructors for ​the academy also shows our intention to carry on building upon the great legacy of Korean esports. We look forward to more former pro players joining TEA as instructors.”

Registrations for the PTP program will start on August 18 through the official TEA website (link), and classes will start in early September. For more information or inquiries, contact tea@t1.gg.