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 unhealthy information got here for the workforce as star Duelist Francis “OXY” Hoang needed to take time without work on account of a private tragedy. Nevertheless, the addition of Max “Demon1” Mazanov noticed Cloud9 return to successful methods towards Demon1’s former workforce, Leviatán.
Q) What are your takes on the double Duelist meta that’s fairly in style 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 believe it is rather sturdy proper now, however it is rather reliant on the fragging means. Should you don’t go for double Duelist, you’ll be able to clearly rely extra on utility. I believe Chamber can be within the boat of the double Duelist meta. He’s very oppressive, and persons are scared to play towards it, particularly in the event you put somebody like Demon1 or me on it. I believe each approaches to double Duelist are sturdy, however we simply opted for the Chamber extra not too long ago.
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 more durable 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 location 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 be taught a brand new strategy to the sport or a distinct playstyle?
penny: I might say the largest factor I learnt in EMEA is the workforce dynamic over there. Clearly, it’s a lot totally different since persons are from totally different international locations, have totally different cultures, and converse totally different languages. I wouldn’t say I learnt an excessive amount of when it comes to VALORANT however extra so in points of life the place I learnt to work together and be pals with individuals from totally different cultures who’ve totally different mannerisms in comparison with the place I’m from. I believe it was actually useful and I’m glad I went to EMEA regardless that it didn’t go so effectively in Apeks. I met a variety of nice individuals and learnt so much about myself.
Q) Would you take into account 2025 to be one of the vital vital 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 venture can be robust, however I felt it might be extra helpful to go there and take the danger to see if I might give good performances. Clearly, everybody knew that it might be robust to get a variety of wins there however possibly 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. Nevertheless, it was my purpose to present my finest, take the danger, and make it among the finest years to get again into tier-one such as you mentioned.
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 variety of loopy hero performs on account of their mechanics. Do you agree with this or have a distinct take?
penny: A minimum of 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 only go in and be selfless. Nevertheless, it was so much totally 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 a lot of the stats leaders are most likely Duelists. In EMEA, I solely really feel like one or two had been excessive up there, and the remaining 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 exhausting 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 12 months don’t get that fortunate to be a prime workforce however I’m again in a prime workforce in my first 12 months again in VCT Americas. I’m grateful for that and it’s been nice to date.
Q) Lots of people anticipate G2 Esports, MIBR, and NRG to be the highest canines of VCT Americas this 12 months. Nevertheless, it seems 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 global occasion and probably clinch the spot of the perfect outdoors of the large three?
penny: I believe the one groups we actually respect are the highest canines proper now. Based mostly on playstyle, these are G2 and NRG. Clearly, MIBR may be very expert, however I believe 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 take into account Cloud9 as proper up there as the highest 4.
Q) Are you considerably stunned that MIBR usually are not working double Duelist with aspas and zekken?
penny: I believe it might make extra sense proper now for them to do this however zekken’s very expert and may do no matter. Nevertheless, he may take a while to get into that kind. They received their recreation and it regarded actually good however he actually didn’t should do something which type of says so much about how expert they’re.
Q) Do you’ve gotten any closing ideas to share with the followers of Cloud9 and also you?
penny: I recognize everybody for the help. Clearly, with our present scenario, I recognize everybody’s help for OXY because it means so much to him, nevertheless it additionally means so much 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.
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