Cloud9 has signed alym, Derrek and nightz to finish a rebuilt VALORANT lineup around GLYPH and FireBallOps. Without a VCT partner slot, the team must now earn a 2027 Americas Kickoff place through the North America qualifier.
Cloud9 will begin its 2027 VALORANT campaign past the open qualifiers but short of Kickoff. Its invitation does not place the team directly in the 2027 Americas Kickoff. The new lineup still has to win its way through.
The roster is now complete. The newcomers’ full names are Torogul “alym” Baidyldaev, Derrek “Derrek” Ha and Christian “nightz” Smith. Their teammates are FireBallOps, on the roster since 2026-05-29, and GLYPH. Ian “Immi” Harding returns as head coach.
The three signings arrive from different 2026 roles. alym played entry Duelist for FURIA. nightz joined ENVY partway through the season and mostly played Controller. Derrek played for M80 and QoR. ENVY and QoR are both on the list of teams invited to the qualifier.
Only FireBallOps remains from Cloud9’s 2026 lineup
The rebuild follows a difficult season. Cloud9 finished sixth at Kickoff in 2026. It went 1-4 in the Stage 1 group stage. The year ended with a 1-2 exit in the Stage 2 play-ins.
On October 19, Cloud9 said on X that Riot had not picked it as a VCT partner for 2027. The team said it would keep competing in VALORANT. It has not played an international event since 2023, THESPIKE reported.
The roster changes followed quickly. On November 2, Cloud9 released Zellsis, OXY and Jackk and signed GLYPH. GLYPH’s contract terms and length were not disclosed. Jackk’s contract ran through the 2028 season. On the same day as Cloud9’s partnership post, he announced that the team had let him explore offers. Cloud9’s team page now lists v1c as inactive.
Two former Cloud9 players have landed at Sentinels. Zellsis rejoined the team as an official emergency substitute and full-time content creator, not as a starter. Sentinels’ roster for the 2027 Americas Kickoff lists both OXY and Zellsis. johnqt, brawk and canezerra complete that roster.
Cloud9 needs two Swiss wins to advance from the qualifier
Eight Americas partner teams hold direct places in the 2027 Americas Kickoff. They are 100 Thieves, G2 Esports, KRÜ Esports, LEVIATÁN, LOUD, MIBR, NRG and Sentinels. The remaining places go to the North America qualifier, the Brazil qualifier, the LATAM Final and a Last Chance qualifier.
Invitations went to teams that were VCT Americas partners from 2023 to 2026 and were not renewed for 2027. Top former VCL or Game Changers teams were also invited. Cloud9’s fellow invitees include ENVY, FlyQuest, QoR, YFP, SaD Esports, and Shopify Rebellion Black and Gold.
The two North American open qualifiers run November 5-8 and November 12-15. Teams that get through join the invited sides in a 16-team Swiss Stage. That format means one strong weekend could carry the new lineup forward.
Cloud9’s five will play together for the first time in the Swiss Stage from November 20. The qualifier’s playoffs follow on December 1-6.
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