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 day without work as a result 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 common proper now? Might 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 robust proper now, however it is rather reliant on the fragging capacity. In the event you don’t go for double Duelist, you may clearly rely extra on utility. I believe Chamber can be within the boat of the double Duelist meta. He’s very oppressive, and individuals are scared to play towards it, particularly if you happen to put somebody like Demon1 or me on it. I believe each approaches to double Duelist are robust, 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 explanation why he’s again within the meta is due to the initiator nerfs because it makes it tougher to get him off his line. Even if you happen to do handle to get him off his line, you don’t have that utility to hit the positioning as a result of it takes so lengthy to return again. That’s undoubtedly one of many strongest components about him.
Q) You had a really fascinating 2025 the place you spent fairly a while in EMEA with Workforce Liquid and Apeks. Did you study a brand new method to the sport or a special playstyle?
penny: I might say the most important factor I learnt in EMEA is the workforce dynamic over there. Clearly, it’s a lot totally different since individuals are from totally different international locations, have totally different cultures, and communicate totally different languages. I wouldn’t say I learnt an excessive amount of by way of VALORANT however extra so in points of life the place I learnt to work together and be associates with folks 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 though it didn’t go so effectively in Apeks. I met loads of nice folks and learnt rather a lot about myself.
Q) Would you take into account 2025 to be some of the necessary years in your VALORANT profession as you have 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 undertaking could be robust, however I felt it will be extra useful to go there and take the danger to see if I might give good performances. Clearly, everybody knew that it will be robust to get loads of wins there however possibly one or two wins would have been good, which we have been able to take action however it didn’t find yourself going our method. Nevertheless, it was my objective to present my greatest, take the danger, and make it top-of-the-line 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 loads of loopy hero performs as a result of their mechanics. Do you agree with this or have a special 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 have been inconsistent, because the workforce expects them to only go in and be selfless. Nevertheless, it was rather a lot 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 have been excessive up there, and the remaining have been both Controllers or Initiators.
Q) You’re 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 wish to say I’m fortunate as a result of I labored arduous for it however 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 yr don’t get that fortunate to be a prime workforce however I’m again in a prime workforce in my first yr again in VCT Americas. I’m grateful for that and it’s been nice to this point.
Q) Lots of people anticipate G2 Esports, MIBR, and NRG to be the highest canines of VCT Americas this yr. Nevertheless, it appears like an open taking part in discipline for the remainder of the groups. Do you suppose this Cloud9 roster has what it takes to lastly make a global occasion and doubtlessly clinch the spot of the easiest 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 aren’t operating double Duelist with aspas and zekken?
penny: I believe it will 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 gained their sport and it seemed actually good however he actually didn’t must do something which sort of says rather a lot about how expert they’re.
Q) Do you’ve got any closing ideas to share with the followers of Cloud9 and also you?
penny: I recognize everybody for the help. Clearly, with our present state of affairs, I recognize everybody’s help for OXY because it means rather a lot to him, however it additionally means rather a lot 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.
