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 break day attributable to a private tragedy. Nonetheless, the addition of Max “Demon1” Mazanov noticed Cloud9 return to successful methods in opposition to Demon1’s former workforce, Leviatán.
Penny is representing Cloud9 this yr. Picture Credit score: Riot Video games
Q) What are your takes on the double Duelist meta that’s fairly well-liked 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 feel it is vitally sturdy proper now, however it is vitally reliant on the fragging capability. In case you don’t go for double Duelist, you’ll be able to clearly rely extra on utility. I feel Chamber can be within the boat of the double Duelist meta. He’s very oppressive, and persons are scared to play in opposition to it, particularly in the event you put somebody like Demon1 or me on it. I feel each approaches to double Duelist are sturdy, however we simply opted for the Chamber extra just lately.
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 tougher to get him off his line. Even in the event you do handle to get him off his line, you don’t have that utility to hit the positioning as a result of it takes so lengthy to come back again. That’s positively one of many strongest elements about him.
Q) You had a really fascinating 2025 the place you spent fairly a while in EMEA with Staff Liquid and Apeks. Did you study a brand new method to the sport or a special playstyle?
penny: I might say the most important factor I learnt in EMEA is the workforce dynamic over there. Clearly, it’s a lot completely different since persons are from completely different international locations, have completely different cultures, and converse completely different languages. I wouldn’t say I learnt an excessive amount of by way of VALORANT however extra so in features of life the place I learnt to work together and be pals with folks from completely different cultures who’ve completely different mannerisms in comparison with the place I’m from. I feel it was actually useful and I’m glad I went to EMEA although it didn’t go so effectively in Apeks. I met a whole lot of nice folks and learnt quite a bit about myself.
Q) Would you think about 2025 to be one of the crucial essential years in your VALORANT profession as you had 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 challenge could be robust, however I felt it will be extra helpful to go there and take the chance to see if I might give good performances. Clearly, everybody knew that it will be robust to get a whole lot of wins there however perhaps one or two wins would have been good, which we had been able to take action nevertheless it didn’t find yourself going our approach. Nonetheless, it was my aim to provide my finest, take the chance, 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 a whole lot of loopy hero performs attributable to their mechanics. Do you agree with this or have a special take?
penny: At the very least from what I’ve observed, 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 effectively each week. The opposite Duelists had been inconsistent, because the workforce expects them to simply go in and be selfless. Nonetheless, it was quite a bit completely 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 many of the stats leaders are in all probability Duelists. In EMEA, I solely really feel like one or two had been excessive up there, and the remainder had been both Controllers or Initiators.
Q) You might be 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 onerous for it nevertheless it’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 yr don’t get that fortunate to be a high workforce however I’m again in a high workforce in my first yr again in VCT Americas. I’m grateful for that and it’s been nice thus far.
Penny is again on the high in Americas. Picture Credit score: Riot Video games
Q) Lots of people count on G2 Esports, MIBR, and NRG to be the highest canines of VCT Americas this yr. Nonetheless, it appears like an open taking part in discipline for the remainder of the groups. Do you assume this Cloud9 roster has what it takes to lastly make a world occasion and doubtlessly clinch the spot of the easiest exterior of the massive three?
penny: I feel 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 feel 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 think about Cloud9 as proper up there as the highest 4.
Q) Are you considerably shocked that MIBR will not be operating double Duelist with aspas and zekken?
penny: I feel it will make extra sense proper now for them to try this however zekken’s very expert and might do no matter. Nonetheless, he may take a while to get into that type. They gained their recreation and it regarded actually good however he actually didn’t need to do something which sort of says quite a bit about how expert they’re.
Q) Do you will have any closing ideas to share with the followers of Cloud9 and also you?
penny: I respect everybody for the help. Clearly, with our present state of affairs, I respect everybody’s help for OXY because it means quite a bit to him, nevertheless it additionally means quite a bit 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.
