Reigning VALORANT Champion NRG has made a significant roster change by signing Georgio ‘keiko’ Sanassy for the upcoming VCT season. This announcement marks a new chapter as the former Team Liquid player steps in to replace Sam ‘s0m’ Oh, who recently announced he would be taking a competitive break to shift his focus towards content creation.
Keiko’s Journey into VCT
Keiko began his journey in the European VALORANT tier-2 scene in 2021 and made a name for himself during the 2023 Challengers season with Apeks, leading them to a second-place finish at VCT Ascension EMEA. His performance caught the attention of Team Liquid, who recruited him to debut in Riot Games’ franchised VALORANT Champions Tour. Despite a challenging first year in VCT EMEA, Keiko quickly proved himself as a standout player, helping Team Liquid secure a win in VCT EMEA Stage 2 and qualify for every international competition in 2025.
“Big surprise! Joined NRG. Super excited to be playing with the Champions from last year. Let’s get to work,” commented Keiko on NRG’s announcement. NRG has now finalized its lineup for the upcoming VCT season next year.
Keiko Has Big Shoes to Fill
As NRG’s newest member, Keiko will fill the role of the former smokes player, s0m. S0m had been with the North American esports organization since 2020 and was instrumental in securing VALORANT’s biggest trophy at this year’s Champions event in Paris. NRG’s road to victory was unexpected, as the team initially struggled but eventually clinched their spot by finishing second in VCT Americas Stage 2. Throughout their journey, s0m was frequently praised by teammates for his vocal support and leadership.
With Keiko now on board, NRG looks to continue their winning momentum into the next season. Apart from s0m, all previous team members, including double-Champions winner Ethan ‘Ethan’ Arnold, have renewed their contracts, solidifying their commitment to the team’s future success.