Staff Envy has formally secured promotion to the VCT Americas League after lifting the trophy at VCT Ascension Americas, however they’re going to need to make some huge modifications because of this.
Whereas the crew can have fun, they’ll quickly need to face looming roster modifications coming into the following season.
Envy Ascend to VCT Americas
The Staff Envy gamers spent the whole yr grinding it out within the Challengers League and had their efforts repay after rising victorious at Ascension Americas 2025. The crew was thought-about the heavy favourite and secured the job in a convincing method.
Main the cost was the crew’s 17-year-old star participant, Alex “canezerra” Banyasz, who carried out properly at his debut LAN event. He was the highest-rated participant within the playoffs with a 1.14 ranking.
We’ll lastly see the Staff Envy banner again in Tier 1 because the crew, consisting of Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker and Pujan “FNS” Mehta, was acquired by OpTic Gaming in 2022.
Nevertheless, Envy entered the event figuring out they’d need to face a significant setback. Their dream promotion comes with the tough actuality that two of the crew’s gamers, canezerra (17) and Ayan “ion2x” Rastogi (16), shall be ineligible to compete in VCT franchising on account of Riot’s minimal age rule, which requires gamers to be 18 years or older to take part in official occasions.
This rule means Envy should begin their 2026 marketing campaign with out their star participant, canezerra, who carried them to promotion, as he gained’t flip 18 till June 2026. The crew’s controller, ion2x, can be out of the query, being a yr youthful.
Envy are again within the huge leagues after a few years away from the highlight. Picture Credit score: Riot Video games
Envy will now need to scout replacements, however there needs to be loads of gamers to recruit from the upcoming roster shuffle. They may decide up former VCT gamers, or ones who participated within the very Ascension event they simply gained.
TSM’s Roster Drama Overshadows Their Finals Run
On the opposite facet of the coin, their opponents within the Grand Closing, TSM, discovered themselves in somewhat little bit of inner drama. In the midst of their Ascension run, rumors revealed two of the crew’s gamers had already verbally agreed to hitch 100 Thieves for the following yr.
These leaks could have dealt a large blow to the crew’s morale and motivation. Timothée “Timotino” Lavigne Dupont, who was one of many gamers reportedly becoming a member of 100 Thieves, ended up being the bottom performer within the Grand Closing.
What’s Subsequent for Envy?
Although Envy can have fun their promotion, it’s inevitable that they’ll need to shake up their roster. The crew has confirmed it has what it takes to compete on the highest stage, nevertheless it gained’t even be capable to attempt competing in opposition to America’s finest with the identical roster.
Nonetheless, we’ll see common Twitch personalities reminiscent of Eggsterr, identified for being a Yoru one-trick, and Matteo “P0PPIN” Weber, popularized for his trademarked “P0PPIN Swing,” compete in VCT.
