Though they received Valorant Champions 2025, it appears NRG could also be looking out for a brand new participant as Sam “s0m” Oh has teased that he’ll retire following their win in Paris.
There have additionally been rumors that NRG have been concentrating on a Controller or Flex participant, both straight changing s0m or permitting one other participant to step into the Controller position and placing extra of the highlight on a brand new, star signing.
Picture Credit score: Riot Video games
NRG Goal New Controller
s0m has been a mainstay of the NRG roster ever since he switched to Valorant from CS:GO. Having joined the crew in 2020, he lastly lifted his first VCT trophy with the group at Champions earlier this month.
NRG received Champions by taking down fnatic 3-2 within the Grand Closing. S0m was the one participant on the North America crew to go detrimental within the victory, however was nonetheless praised for his skill to keep up the crew’s power as they regarded to keep away from a reverse sweep.
The win at Champions implies that s0m has now climbed to the best peak inside Valorant, and though he hasn’t received a VCT Masters occasion, he now holds a medal for the largest title within the recreation.
s0m beforehand mentioned retirement in an interview earlier this yr and has now as soon as once more teased calling time on his skilled profession on his stream, laying credence to a hearsay from respected leaker “Akamaru” that states NRG are at the moment concentrating on a brand new Controller participant for the 2026 VCT season.
Sources: NRG are searching for a controller/flex participant forward of the 2026 VCT Season. They’re enthusiastic about Zekken. pic.twitter.com/0ytZstZUfr
— thomas (@AkamaruVal) October 15, 2025
Based on that hearsay, the participant the group is concentrating on is Zachary “zekken” Patrone, who at the moment performs for Sentinels. zekken’s contract is ready to run out quickly, which might permit him to discover his choices and supply a possible low-cost substitute for NRG if s0m is to retire.
zekken is understood for being one of many strongest gamers within the North American area, and beforehand received VCT Masters Madrid with Sentinels in 2024. A flexible participant, he can be suited to the Controller position or a extra versatile one as VALORANT’s meta absolutely shifts in response to latest updates that have been pushed to the sport.
