SLT Seongnam roster acquired by VARREL for VCT Pacific 2026
VARREL will join the 12-team VCT Pacific league in 2026, fielding the former SLT Seongnam roster.
SOUTH KOREA – Riot Games has announced that Japan-based organization VARREL has acquired the SLT Seongnam roster ahead of the VCT Pacific 2026 season. The move will see the Ascension Pacific 2025 champions from Korea compete under a new banner as they step up to tier-one play in Seoul next year.
The full SLT lineup, including the players and head coach, will remain intact.
In a statement, Riot Games said: “With their extensive history in esports, and experience managing cross-regional rosters, we are confident that VARREL will be an exciting addition to VCT Pacific. We are also happy for the players and coaches who will now have access to more resources and support as they prepare to compete at the highest level of VALORANT Esports.”
VARREL has been part of the VALORANT ecosystem since 2020, originally competing under the name Donuts Unsold Stuff Gaming before rebranding to VARREL in late 2022. They went on to compete in VALORANT Challengers Japan with players including Tomonori “SSeeS” Okimura, Jyousuke “zepher” Matsuda, Kohei “BlackWiz” Mikami, and Tomoki “xnfri” Moriya at various points. Their best result to date was a 5th–6th place finish in Challengers Japan Split 1 and Split 2 in 2024.
After a hiatus in 2025, the Yokohama-based organization will return to VALORANT in 2026 as a VCT Pacific tier-one team, carrying a Korean roster into the league.
VARREL also shared that they plan to operate an academy team alongside their main roster, with the goal of raising Japan’s overall competitive level.
VARREL’s roster for VCT Pacific 2026 are as follows:
- 🇰🇷 Go "C1ndeR" Jae-hyuk
- 🇰🇷 Kim "Klaus" Min-hyuk
- 🇰🇷 Shin "oonzmlp" Sang-beom
- 🇰🇷 Kim "XuNa" Tae-geon
- 🇰🇷 Jang "ZEXY" Suk-hyun
- 🇰🇷 Goo "TK9" Tae-kyun (Head coach)
- 🇰🇷 Seo "Rain" Hong-seung (Coach)
- 🇰🇷 Kim "R3THME" Ki-woon (Analyst)
“As we continued searching for an opportunity to relaunch our VALORANT division, meeting the excellent team SLT felt like destiny to me. By combining their passion and potential with our Japan-based operational structure, I’m confident we can bring new value to VCT Pacific. As VARREL, we will once again take on the VALORANT stage. We would be grateful for your warm support.”
“We are pleased to officially announce that SLT eSports will be joining VARREL, and together we will be turning the first page of a new chapter in our history.
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of our fans who have walked alongside SLT eSports and consistently supported us with warm encouragement and love. It is only because of your support and affection that we have been able to stand on this stage.
Going forward, SLT will take the stage under the name VARREL in VCT Pacific 2026. VARREL’s strong vision and professional system will, I am certain, become a foundation for our players to make an even greater leap forward. Our players have also already strengthened their resolve to deliver their very best performance in this new environment.
We kindly ask for your continued interest and support so that the spirit and potential of SLT eSports, now given wings as VARREL, can create a new wave in VCT Pacific. Please look forward to the outstanding play we will show as VARREL.”
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific