Cloud9 has officially announced a major overhaul of its VALORANT roster ahead of the 2024 season, marking a fresh start after a disappointing year. The organization has confirmed the departure of four players, as well as their head coach, Matthew “mCe” Elmore.
The team is parting ways with experienced player Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro, the in-game leader Dylan “runi” Cade, Mateja “qpert” Mijović, and the emerging star duelist Nathan “leaf” Orf. These decisions come in the wake of the team’s inability to secure a spot in any major international events throughout the past year, including Masters Tokyo and Champions 2023.
Notably, Leaf’s departure from the roster has been one of the more unexpected developments during the offseason. Despite the team’s struggles, the 19-year-old had an impressive year as the team’s duelist, ranking second in average combat score, third in average damage per round, and first in clutch percentage in the Americas League, according to VLR.gg.
Cloud9 entered the previous year as a relatively unknown entity, particularly after parting ways with star duelist Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker and Anthony “vanity” Malaspina. The organization signed a former Soniqs in-game leader and a recent collegiate talent, leaving fans unsure of what to expect. However, within a short period, Cloud9 emerged as one of the top teams in the region.
By the end of the regular season, they were tied for first place with LOUD, boasting an 8-1 record and the potential to become a dominant force in North America. Unfortunately, they faltered in the playoffs, losing to Evil Geniuses and NRG Esports, failing to meet the high expectations set for them. They also missed out on the Champions event through the Last Chance Qualifier after an unexpected loss to Leviatán.
Recent reports have hinted that Cloud9 is pursuing the signing of Anthony “vanity” Malaspina and Francis “OXY” Hoang, who would join the two remaining members of the 2023 roster. Jake “jakee” Anderson and Erick “Xeppaa” Bach will need to adapt to a new group of teammates as they seek success in the upcoming season, hoping to achieve what eluded Cloud9 in the latter part of the previous year.