The Cloud9 Valorant roster saga continues to unfold with Anthony “vanity” Malaspina set to depart the roster. The information comes from reports by Max Katz which were corroborated by Dotesports.
This move will leave a void in the role of in-game leader within the team. With Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker being released by the organization just days ago, it seems the roster is getting an overhaul.
When yay was released, head coach Matthew “mCe” Elmore did state that more changes could be coming and now we know.
- Cloud9 Valorant’s mCe doesn’t hold back: ‘Feels good to send them home’
- Sentinels Valorant player SicK arrested for criminal trespassing
Cloud9 Valorant looks to rebuild without yay and Vanity
According to the reports, the players on the roster wished for Vanity to remain on the team but ultimately Cloud9 has decided to move forward with the decision. Vanity has been a part of the organization since August 2021 and helped guide the squad to the playoffs at Valorant Champions Berlin.
The team has been trialing Dylan “runi” Cade, formerly of Soniqs, to replace Vanity in the roster. This is happening while the squad is still looking for a player to replace the superstar yay.
Dotesports claims that Cloud9 continues to be “unwilling to pay large buyouts for players signed to organizations” which means options are limited to who the team can gain access to. As of now, the team has continued to practice with teams from the semi-professional scene.
This shift in the team began following a rough exit from the VCT LOCK//IN event in Brazil in February. The team opened things up against Paper Rex where they were able to secure a victory, however, the excitement was short-lived.
The team would take on DRX next and the 2-1 loss ended on a brutal note with a 13-2 loss which clearly led to some considerations about how the squad would move forward. Now it seems at least two players are out.
Cloud9 is set to compete in the Americas regional league starting on April 1. This means the team will need to pick a player soon in order to get in enough practice to put up a fight in the region.
READ MORE: Valorant Episode 6 Act 2 Battle Pass: 5 best memes and weapon skins
