ZETA SugarZ3ro: “Returning to the international stage is my main goal.”

ZETA DIVISION is competing at the Red Bull Home Ground to demonstrate the full potential of their roster on the VALORANT stage. In an interview with esports.gg, ZETA’s Shota “SugarZ3ro” Watanabe reflected on the team’s challenging year, the areas they need to improve, and the bright future of Japan’s esports scene, where emerging talent continues to thrive.

The team is determined to bounce back stronger than they were in 2025. With three rookies and two veterans, can 2026 finally be the year for ZETA DIVISION?

If you are a recent VALORANT fan and do not know about ZETA SugarZ3ro, he is a former Rainbow Six Siege player who decided to join VALORANT when the game came out back in 2020. He named himself SugarZ3ro after Coca-Cola Zero, the Japanese version of Diet Coke.

"When I was playing a game, I was drinking Coca-Cola Zero, and I noticed it had zero calories and zero sugar, so I took a picture of it. That was when I was making my account," he explained. He began his career with Northeption, where he quickly stood out thanks to his talent.

In 2021, he signed with ZETA DIVISION, and he has been with the team ever since. In January 2025, he became the first player in VCT PACIFIC 2025 to achieve 1000 kills.

"I don't really think about the future," ZETA SugarZ3ro commented. "But somehow, I can feel growth like never before. I think it’s going to be a tough but fun year. That’s just my personal take." Ahead of the last event of the year, the Red Bull Home Ground 2025, SugarZ3ro believes the team has a lot to prove.

"Our team is full of young players, and I want to show them how strong we can be. Right now, we have about three young players on the roster. I hope they gain experience through this tournament, and maybe even have some fun along the way," he added.

ZETA welcomed four rookies this year: Kazuki "Absol" Fujinoki, Yuto "Xdll" Mizomori (who joined at the end of 2024), Fumiya "HoneyBunny" Tanimatsu, and Yeom "eKo" Wang-ryong.

ZETA DIVISION faced challenges throughout 2025. Across the three stages, the team never placed higher than ninth, prompting them to rethink what areas to improve ahead of the next season. "I think VCT Pacific is a high-level region, and we had a hard time. Even when we give 100%, we can’t always beat strong teams. But there are also many games where we don’t give our all and end up making a lot of mistakes. I think it’s time to fix that," he said. "Being consistent is the hardest part."

"I want to qualify for the Champions 2026," SugarZ3ro confessed. "I want to return to the international stage. That’s my main source of motivation." The Japanese player hasn’t qualified for an international event since 2023, when he competed at VALORANT Champions 2023.

ZETA DIVISION’s best finish came in 2022, when they placed third at VALORANT Masters Reykjavík 2022, which was won by OpTic Gaming.

"Don’t be nervous. That’s the most important thing. Be confident and don’t overthink it, just stick to what you’re used to doing in practice," ZETA SugarZ3ro advised the younger members of the squad. At the Red Bull Home Ground 2025, ZETA DIVISION will play against G2 Esports.

SugarZ3ro draws inspiration from many VALORANT players. "DRX MaKo is one of them. Since I’ve been leading the team this year, I’ve also looked up to NRG Ethan, especially after he won Champions twice. I also admire G2 valyn," he added. On Nov. 14, he shared a memorable moment with valyn by exchanging jerseys at the Red Bull Home Ground.

Despite the team's results, SugarZ3ro believes there is a lot of potential in the Japanese esports scene. "Young players have a lot of explosive potential. I just feel like their growth curve is only going to rise from here. There are so many young players with a bright future. If they can compete in Japan and gain experience, that curve will only grow," the player commented.

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