North American organization Gen.G has tested the roster in practice without Michael “MkaeL” De Luca, multiple sources told Upcomer Sept. 7.
Multiple players are set to receive a trial with the team in the coming days, with EZ5 player Corbin “c0m” Lee seen in one of the practice sessions, two sources told Upcomer. MkaeL could return to the roster, however, if Gen.G do not find a suitable replacement.
Gen.G will have around one month to find a replacement for MkaeL, if they wish to recruit a new player. The organization is set to compete in the VALORANT Championship Tour Last Chance Qualifier, which will begin on Oct. 12. Gen.G, alongside other teams like Cloud9 Blue and FaZe Clan, will compete for a chance to qualify for Champions, the biggest event of the year.
Gen.G had an unlucky showing during VCT Stage 3 Challengers 2. The organization had a grueling series against eventual-winners TSM in the opening round. The three match nail-biter lasted for several hours, but eventually ended with TSM closing the series out on Icebox 13-10.
The team would go on to dispatch Version1 in the lower quarter finals, but were defeated by Rise in the semifinals. This left Gen.G with enough points regardless and they automatically earned a spot at the LCQ. TSM, however, has to rely on a North American team to win VCT Berlin to qualify for the event.
Regardless of the team’s recent performance, Gen.G is still considered one of the top teams in North America. They are ranked as the eighth best team in the region, according to VLR.gg.
If Gen.G bench MkaeL the organization would temporarily field the following roster before they compete in the upcoming LCQ:
- Nicholas “NaturE” Garrison
- Anthony “gMd” Guimond
- Shawn “Shawn” O’Riley
- Kenneth “koosta” Suen
- MkaeL (benched)
Gen.G did not respond to comment at the time of publication.
