ENVY has officially secured its spot in VCT Americas Tier 1 after winning Ascension, marking a new chapter for the organization.
Team ENVY is no stranger to the big stage. Back in 2022, the brand retired after being acquired by OpTic Gaming. After three years away from the spotlight, ENVY re-established at the beginning of 2025 with a fresh roster. Now, this talented lineup has taken the organization even further by securing a spot in the VCT Americas Tier 1 2026 season.
Who is ENVY?
ENVY, now featuring a full American roster and led by a Canadian coach, made a triumphant return to VALORANT in 2025 under the leadership of Mike “Hastr0” Rufail, who reacquired the iconic organization. In March, they signed the complete RANKERS roster, cementing their competitive lineup.
Since debuting in the North American VCL Stage 3 in late 2024, RANKERS has been unstoppable, racking up an impressive 17-match winning streak. Kicking off 2025, they topped the North America Stage 1 Swiss Stage, securing a spot in the playoffs.
The roster boasts a mix of popular streamers, P0PPIN, Eggster, canezerra, and ion2x, alongside Inspire, formerly of 100 Thieves and FaZe Clan.
- Dakota "Stunner" MacLeod (Head Coach)
On Oct. 26, the roster secured a 3-1 victory over TSM, winning the Americas Ascension 2025 and guaranteeing their spot in VCT Americas Tier 1. But this team is more than just winners. They play with flair. Known for their aggressive pushes and high-risk strategies, they’ve already earned the nickname “Paper Rex 2.0.”
The ENVY one-trick Yoru
This roster comes with some cool storylines. Back in February, when ENVY returned to the scene, Inspire publicly called on the organization via an X post to sign the RANKERS roster. Whether that post influenced the decision remains unclear, but ultimately, ENVY did sign the entire RANKERS lineup.
However, it’s the one-trick Yoru player who truly stole the spotlight. Known only as Eggster, this 23-year-old entered the competitive scene in 2023. A year later, he joined RANKERS, where his journey to success began. Despite his growing fame, little is known about him, and his real name remains a mystery.
What we do know is that he’s a Twitch streamer who rose to popularity thanks to his flashy and creative Yoru plays. Since joining the competitive scene, Eggster has only played Yoru. He mastered this agent to achieve his goal and reach Tier 1. We are very curious to see how Eggster will perform on the big stage. Can ENVY make it to the international events?
What comes next?
Amid all the celebration, ENVY's promotion to Tier 1 hasn’t come without complications. Two of the team’s players are reportedly underage: canezerra, who is 17, and ion2x, who is just 16.
According to VCT regulations, players must be at least 18 years old to compete in the Tier 1 league. This means that, despite earning their spot, ENVY may be forced to enter the major league without two of the key players who helped secure their qualification.
This also means we might see some roster changes in the upcoming months to deal with the lack of two key players. Their future is still uncertain, and we might get some updates soon.
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