Cloud9 Signs Demon1 to Replace OXY for VCT Americas Kickoff Week 2

With the VCT Americas Kickoff here and North American esports squad Cloud9 needing a replacement for Francis "OXY" Hoang returning home after his mother passed away, the team has turned to Maximillian "Demon1" Mazanov and have signed him as a substitute. 

More About the Signing

On Jan. 22, 2026, Cloud9 took to X to announce the signing. 

"Without our monster, we needed a demon

"So we got one.

"Welcome @Demon1___to Cloud9 VALORANT," the Cloud9 VALORANT account wrote. 

Without our monster, we needed a demon

So we got one.

Welcome @Demon1___ to Cloud9 VALORANT pic.twitter.com/JLyPKZkDxn

— Cloud9 VALORANT (@C9VAL) January 22, 2026

With him coming aboard, he'll compete in the second week of VCT Americas Kickoff with Cloud9 taking on Leviatan in a mid-bracket match that'll occur on Jan. 25. 

Demon1 has been playing for four years and he's quickly become recognizable. With Evil Geniuses, he won VALORANT Champions in 2023.

Two years later, in 2025, he joined Dragon Ranger Gaming and finished inside the top 16. 

After that, though, he announced in December 2025 that, if he didn't find a permanent squad, he would retire from VALORANT esports. 

"If I don't get a team this year, by 2026, I don't think I'm playing competitive in 2027," he said during a livestream. 

Now, joining Cloud9, this marks the fifth organization he's joined during his pro career. 

With this opportunity and thanks to his past big-time tournament appearances, he has a chance to go on a run and make a name for himself once again. 

Cloud9 in VALORANT Esports In 2026

Cloud9 got off to a hot start in 2026. In the opening Kickoff Match, OXY had a 2-0 sweep over LOUD. However, after being defeated by NRG in the upper bracket, the team fell to the mid-bracket. 

Of course, OXY is now going home, so they won't have him to help elevate the team as he did against LOUD. 

Starting in 2026, Riot Games introduced a triple-elimination format, so now, even if a team falls out of the upper bracket, they have a chance to remain in the tournament. 

Now, with Demon1 on board for OXY, they'll look to make a run through the mid-bracket and hope to earn one of three qualification spots for VALORANT Masters Santiago. 

We'll see if they can run without OXY in the fold.