Vitality extend deal with Tekken superstar

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 09/10/2025

Jeon ‘Jeondding’ Sang-hyun has committed to a long-term contract with the French organisation, Team Vitality.

The deal extends Jeondding’s stay with Vitality to 2030, coming 18 months after his initial announcement with the Team in April 2024.

Vitality complimented the star, stating, “The contract renewal reflects Jeondding’s unmatched talent, dedication, and passion for the game as well as Team Vitality’s commitment to nurturing talent and strengthening its footprint in the fighting game scene.”

Danny Engels, Corporate Director of Global Operations at Team Vitality, provided the following statement regarding the extension:

“Securing such a long-term commitment in esports is something truly special, and it speaks volumes about the absolute trust we have in Jeondding, both as a player and as a person. His attitude, dedication, and the way he embodies the DNA of Team Vitality make this partnership feel natural and inspiring.

He added, “We’re thrilled to continue building this journey together and excited to see all the milestones he will achieve with us in the years ahead.”

He is currently ranked 10th in the Tekken World Tour leaderboards, with 1380 points.

Jeondding and EWC

Vitality returned to the Fighting Game Community (FGC) by signing Joeondding in April 2024, three months after the release of Tekken 8.

The signing came shortly before Evo Japan 2024, where Jeondding finished 7th-8th.

Since then, the fighting games competitor has represented Vitality at dozens of events, most notably the Esports World Cup in both 2024 and 2025.

EWC 2025 was especially successful for the South Korean who finished 4th place at the tournament.

Vitality noted the achievement in the announcement, saying, “The renewal follows Jeondding’s standout performance at the 2025 Esports World Cup, where he secured an impressive 4th-place finish. This defining moment not only solidified his reputation on the global stage but also reaffirmed his status as one of the most respected and admired competitors in the fighting game community.”

Indeed, EWC stipends have been a core reason why many organisations are expanding their horizons to sign players from outside their typical esports.

The success of the partnership at EWC may be central to Vitality’s thinking, but Tekken 8 is yet to be announced at EWC 2026.

Yet there are still four titles to be confirmed at the event, so does the re-signing give us a clue that Tekken 8 will be one of them?

Regardless, Vitality’s long-term commitment shows intent to support the player not simply at the one incentivised event, but throughout the years.

With many esports athletes signing short-term deals just for EWC, then being dropped shortly after, the move can be understood as a positive step for Vitality’s relationship with the FGC.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

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