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 crew, Chamber within the present meta, reuniting with Zellsis, and extra.
Additional unhealthy information got here for the crew as star Duelist Francis “OXY” Hoang needed to take break day attributable to a private tragedy. Nonetheless, the addition of Max “Demon1” Mazanov noticed Cloud9 return to profitable methods in opposition to Demon1’s former crew, Leviatán.
Q) What are your takes on the double Duelist meta that’s fairly standard 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 feel it is vitally robust proper now, however it is vitally reliant on the fragging capability. In the event you don’t go for double Duelist, you may clearly rely extra on utility. I feel Chamber can be within the boat of the double Duelist meta. He’s very oppressive, and persons are scared to play in opposition to it, particularly should you put somebody like Demon1 or me on it. I feel each approaches to double Duelist are robust, however we simply opted for the Chamber extra just lately.
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 should you 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 elements about him.
Q) You had a really attention-grabbing 2025 the place you spent fairly a while in EMEA with Crew Liquid and Apeks. Did you study a brand new method to the sport or a unique playstyle?
penny: I’d say the most important factor I learnt in EMEA is the crew dynamic over there. Clearly, it’s a lot totally different since persons 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 elements of life the place I learnt to work together and be buddies with folks from totally different cultures who’ve totally different mannerisms in comparison with the place I’m from. I feel it was actually useful and I’m glad I went to EMEA although it didn’t go so effectively in Apeks. I met a number of nice folks and learnt rather a lot about myself.
Q) Would you take into account 2025 to be probably the most 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 mission could be robust, however I felt it might be extra useful to go there and take the danger to see if I may give good performances. Clearly, everybody knew that it might be robust to get a number of wins there however perhaps one or two wins would have been good, which we have been able to take action nevertheless it didn’t find yourself going our approach. Nonetheless, it was my purpose to provide my finest, take the danger, and make it probably the greatest 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 far more individualistic and have a tendency to get away with a number of loopy hero performs attributable to their mechanics. Do you agree with this or have a unique take?
penny: Not less than 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 crew expects them to only go in and be selfless. Nonetheless, 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 many of the stats leaders are in all probability Duelists. In EMEA, I solely really feel like one or two have been excessive up there, and the remainder have been both Controllers or Initiators.
Q) You might be 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 nevertheless it’s fortunate to be in a crew with acquainted faces and on the upper finish of the echelon of groups in Americas as a result of most groups of their first 12 months don’t get that fortunate to be a prime crew however I’m again in a prime crew in my first 12 months again in VCT Americas. I’m grateful for that and it’s been nice to date.
Q) Lots of people count on G2 Esports, MIBR, and NRG to be the highest canines of VCT Americas this 12 months. Nonetheless, it looks like an open taking part in subject 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 exterior of the large three?
penny: I feel the one groups we actually respect are the highest canines proper now. Based mostly on playstyle, these are G2 and NRG. Clearly, MIBR could be very expert, however I feel they’re restricted by the Brokers they play and stuff like this. I really feel like they’ve a little bit of function 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 usually are not working double Duelist with aspas and zekken?
penny: I feel it might make extra sense proper now for them to do this however zekken’s very expert and may do no matter. Nonetheless, he may take a while to get into that type. They gained their sport and it regarded actually good however he actually didn’t need to do something which type of says rather a lot about how expert they’re.
Q) Do you will have any closing ideas to share with the followers of Cloud9 and also you?
penny: I admire everybody for the assist. Clearly, with our present state of affairs, I admire everybody’s assist for OXY because it means rather a lot to him, nevertheless 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.
