After a difficult debut split in the TCL (Turkish Championship League) last Winter, where ULF Esports finished in last place with a 2-12 record, the organization is making moves to turn things around. Sources tell Sheep Esports that ULF has secured verbal agreements with Korean solo-laners Kim "Chasy" Dong-hyeon and Kim "Gori" Tae-woo, signaling the team's intent to rebuild and reassert themselves in the competition.

A Strategic Rebuild in the Works

Following their tough performance in the Winter Split, ULF began focusing on a major roster overhaul for the upcoming season. Since their entry into the TCL, the team has worked closely with esports advisor "Kaan" who has a track record in building rosters in the TCL and bringing Korean imports to European Regional Leagues (ERLs).

ULF considered to sign midlaner Lee "Mask" Sang-hun earlier in the offseason. However, after they heard Gori is available at the market their attention shifted towards Gori, an experienced player who had previously competed in multiple major regions.

For the toplane, ULF was left with almost no viable options. However, with the help of Kaan and external korean agents, they reached out to Chasy and quickly convinced the 23-year-old to make the move to the TCL, emphasizing the team's vision for a rebuild and a competitive future.

A Return Filled with Hope

For Chasy, this marks a fresh start after over a year away from competitive play. His last appearance on the Rift was in late 2023 with MAD Lions, where the team was eliminated from Worlds in the Swiss Stage with a 1-3 record, falling to eventual runners-up Weibo Gaming. Chasy had previously won the 2023 LEC Spring Split, defeating BDS in the finals, and is now eager to return to the competitive spotlight. At just 23 years old, Chasy is looking for a new challenge — one that could eventually pave the way for a return to the top tier of European League of Legends.

A Debut in His Fifth Competitive Region

As for Gori, he returns to competition after a brief hiatus following a stint with CTBC Flying Oyster in the 2024 Summer Split. Although the team finished fourth in the league, Gori’s competitive history is wide. In 2023, he played with Golden Guardians in the LCS and made a notable appearance at MSI. However, his biggest achievement came in 2021 with Nongshim RedForce in the LCK, where he helped the team finish fourth in the Summer Split and narrowly missed qualifying for Worlds after a third-place finish in the regional finals.

Gori's move to ULF marks the start of an unprecedented journey for him in Europe. Having already competed in the LCS, PCS, LCK, and LPL, if he were to move up to the LEC from ERLs, his move would be historic, making him one of the few players to compete at the Tier 1 level across all major regions.

Header photo credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games