This marks a significant shakeup for a team that has already had a tumultuous year of competitive play.

NRG’s performance in the 2024 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) has been disappointing.

Following a strong start at the VCT Americas Kick-off, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing fifth in Group Alpha of the VCT 2024 Americas Stage 1.

In response, NRG brought back veteran in-game leader Pujan “FNS” Mehta and former controller player Sam “s0m” Oh for Stage 2, moving star duelist Max “Demon1” Mazanov to the substitute position and letting Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen go.

Despite these changes, NRG won only one of their four Stage 2 games, finishing fourth in Group Alpha and missing the playoffs again.

The decision to part ways with Victor and Chet appears to stem from the need to reassess and rebuild the team’s dynamics.

VCT Roster Update: Today, we have decided to release @victorwong and @chetsingh from the NRG VALORANT roster.

From the beginning, they've had an incredible impact at NRG and we are so grateful for all their contributions. Thank you for everything and we wish you the best! pic.twitter.com/8GTMGuVDTX

— NRG (@NRGgg) July 16, 2024

Victor, a versatile and experienced player, struggled to deliver consistently at the highest level, finishing Stage 2 with an overall rating of 0.92.

His departure suggests that NRG is looking to inject fresh talent and new strategies into their lineup.

Having been with NRG since 2022, Victor’s presence will be missed by players and fans alike.

Chet’s departure as head coach is equally significant.

Known for his strategic mind and experience across various esports titles, Chet’s tenure with NRG was marked by highs and lows.

While he contributed to some of the team’s strategic successes, the overall inconsistency likely prompted the organisation to seek a new direction in coaching and leadership.

Welcoming Demon1 back into the fold should improve this struggling NRG roster, as he brings a winning mentality and valuable experience from his time on the Evil Geniuses VALORANT Champions-winning squad.

This move by NRG reflects a broader trend in the esports industry, where organisations are quick to make changes in pursuit of success.

The competitive nature of VALORANT, coupled with the high stakes of the VCT circuit, means that teams must constantly evolve and adapt.

As NRG navigates this transitional phase, fans will be watching closely, hoping that the changes will lead to a resurgence in form.

The departure of Victor and Chet marks the end of a chapter but also opens the door for new possibilities and a potential comeback in the competitive VALORANT scene.

NRG VALORANT Roster

• Pujan “FiNESSE” Mehta
• Sam “s0m” Oh
• Austin “crashies” Roberts
• Ethan “Ethan” Arnold
• Max “Demon1” Mazanov
• Assistant Coach: Tanishq “Tanizhq” Sabharwal

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The American organization recently announced that their in game leader Pujan “FNS” Mehta and Sam “s0m” Oh, will be departing the team.

The remaining players on NRGs roster, Victor “Victor” Wong, Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks and Austin “crashies” Roberts are now exploring their options for the season.

These changes come as a result of NRGs failure to qualify for playoffs at Valorant Champions 2023.

In the Americas League tournament they finished in second place after being defeated by LOUD �C who would eventually finish second at Champions 2023.

In 2023, NRGs roster consisted of a mix of players and emerging talents.

NRGs decision to make changes to their roster shows that they are determined to build a team that can compete for titles in 2024.

The organization already has a foundation with players like Victor, ardiis and crashies.

They are looking to recruit new talented players to fill the remaining positions.

The upcoming Valorant season in 2024 is expected to be extremely competitive with teams fighting for dominance.

In order for NRG to be considered a contender for the world championship they will need to make roster moves and continue nurturing their young talent.

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The contracts of both Victor “Victor” Wong and Austin “crashies” Roberts are due to expire during the VCT Champions, which OpTic are scheduled to participate in at the beginning of September. If OpTic do not offer the two players new contracts before the conclusion of the Champions tournament, they run the danger of losing both players.

Crashies, who is currently 25 years old, is a former professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player from the United States. On April 25, 2020, he retired in order to pursue a career in VALORANT. He made his professional debut in May 2019 by playing for Bad News Bears, and he has also competed for teams such as Riot Squad Esports and T1.

Victor is a 26-year-old American player who once competed in CS:GO. He is most known for his time spent on the teams Swole Patrol and eUnited.

All of the other OpTic players have contracts that will be up for renewal in the next year or later. However, the OpTic roster intends to carry over the majority of its current members into the following season.

If OpTic wish to continue competing at the top level, they will need to qualify for partnership in the American League by next year. If the organization has been chosen to participate in the league, the tournament organizer and creator of VALORANT, Riot Games, will break the news before the Champions competition.

Following a series of outstanding performances on the international scene, OpTic cemented their position as the top team in North America. OpTic came in first place at the VCT 2022 Stage 1 Masters competition held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in April. After that, they competed in the VCT 2022 Stage 2 Masters competition in Copenhagen, Denmark, and ended up finishing third there.

The team has expressed a desire to keep the same players on the roster; however, if OpTic Gaming are not chosen for the Americas League 2023, the players’ prospects for the future will be uncertain.
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