Cloud9’s penny on Returning to Americas and ‘Unimpactful’ EMEA Duelists

Erik “penny” Penny and Cloud9 had a rocky begin to the VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff marketing campaign after being demolished by reigning world champions NRG. We spoke with penny concerning the workforce, Chamber within the present meta, reuniting with Zellsis, and extra.

Additional dangerous information got here for the workforce as star Duelist Francis “OXY” Hoang needed to take day without work on account of a private tragedy. Nevertheless, the addition of Max “Demon1” Mazanov noticed Cloud9 return to profitable methods towards Demon1’s former workforce, Leviatán.

Q) What are your takes on the double Duelist meta that’s fairly fashionable proper now? May you additionally remark extra on why Cloud9 are one of many few groups that don’t actually run double Duelists on most maps?

penny: I believe it is rather sturdy proper now, however it is rather reliant on the fragging means. In case you don’t go for double Duelist, you may clearly rely extra on utility. I believe Chamber can also be within the boat of the double Duelist meta. He’s very oppressive, and individuals are scared to play towards it, particularly when you put somebody like Demon1 or me on it. I believe each approaches to double Duelist are sturdy, however we simply opted for the Chamber extra not too long ago.

Q) What are your ideas on Chamber being again within the meta?

penny: A part of the rationale why he’s again within the meta is due to the initiator nerfs because it makes it more durable to get him off his line. Even when you do handle to get him off his line, you don’t have that utility to hit the location as a result of it takes so lengthy to return again. That’s positively one of many strongest elements about him.

Q) You had a really attention-grabbing 2025 the place you spent fairly a while in EMEA with Staff Liquid and Apeks. Did you study a brand new strategy to the sport or a distinct playstyle? 

penny: I might say the largest factor I learnt in EMEA is the workforce dynamic over there. Clearly, it’s a lot totally different since individuals are from totally different nations, have totally different cultures, and converse totally different languages. I wouldn’t say I learnt an excessive amount of when it comes to VALORANT however extra so in elements of life the place I learnt to work together and be mates with individuals from totally different cultures who’ve totally different mannerisms in comparison with the place I’m from. I believe it was actually useful and I’m glad I went to EMEA despite the fact that it didn’t go so nicely in Apeks. I met plenty of nice individuals and learnt so much about myself. 

Q) Would you contemplate 2025 to be one of the necessary years in your VALORANT profession as you have been taking part in in tier-two earlier than your return to the tier-one scene with Liquid after which Apeks?

penny: Yeah. I used to be grateful for the Liquid alternative. I knew going to the Apeks mission can be powerful, however I felt it will be extra helpful to go there and take the danger to see if I may give good performances. Clearly, everybody knew that it will be powerful to get plenty of wins there however possibly one or two wins would have been good, which we have been ready to take action but it surely didn’t find yourself going our approach. Nevertheless, it was my aim to present my greatest, take the danger, and make it the most effective years to get again into tier-one such as you stated.

Q) I talked to FURIA’s koalanoob about his time as a Duelist in Natus Vincere. He talked about Duelists in EMEA are way more individualistic and have a tendency to get away with plenty of loopy hero performs on account of their mechanics. Do you agree with this or have a distinct take?

penny: No less than from what I’ve seen, the Duelists in EMEA didn’t appear impactful. There aren’t many Duelists I can recall, besides one or two like Kaajak and Derke, as they carried out fairly nicely each week. The opposite Duelists have been inconsistent, because the workforce expects them to simply go in and be selfless. Nevertheless, it was so much totally different than that in my expertise. That’s what I noticed from the opposite Duelists, and there weren’t many statistically good Duelists in EMEA in comparison with NA, the place a lot of the stats leaders are in all probability Duelists. In EMEA, I solely really feel like one or two have been excessive up there, and the remaining have been both Controllers or Initiators. 

Q) You’re again in VCT Americas and it’s considerably of a mini Version1 reunion with Zellsis and immi. How has it been working with them once more?

penny: I’m grateful to be right here. I don’t need to say I’m fortunate as a result of I labored laborious for it but it surely’s fortunate to be in a workforce with acquainted faces and on the upper finish of the echelon of groups in Americas as a result of most groups of their first 12 months don’t get that fortunate to be a prime workforce however I’m again in a prime workforce in my first 12 months again in VCT Americas. I’m grateful for that and it’s been nice thus far. 

Q) Lots of people anticipate G2 Esports, MIBR, and NRG to be the highest canines of VCT Americas this 12 months. Nevertheless, it seems like an open taking part in area for the remainder of the groups. Do you suppose this Cloud9 roster has what it takes to lastly make a global occasion and doubtlessly clinch the spot of the perfect exterior of the massive three?

penny: I believe the one groups we actually respect are the highest canines proper now. Primarily based on playstyle, these are G2 and NRG. Clearly, MIBR may be very expert, however I believe they’re restricted by the Brokers they play and stuff like this. I really feel like they’ve a little bit of position issues contemplating the present meta, in order that’s why I’m not placing them up there, however they’ve 5 insane gamers. I contemplate Cloud9 as proper up there as the highest 4. 

Q) Are you considerably shocked that MIBR should not working double Duelist with aspas and zekken?

penny: I believe it will make extra sense proper now for them to try this however zekken’s very expert and might do no matter. Nevertheless, he may take a while to get into that type. They gained their sport and it appeared actually good however he actually didn’t need to do something which form of says so much about how expert they’re.

Q) Do you may have any closing ideas to share with the followers of Cloud9 and also you?

penny: I respect everybody for the assist. Clearly, with our present scenario, I respect everybody’s assist for OXY because it means so much to him, but it surely additionally means so much to us as we’re seeing that. It’s a horrible circumstance, and we’re all with him and love him. It’s good to see the followers and everybody else are with him, too.