100 Thieves overhauls VALORANT roster with Derrek and stellar departures

In a bold move signaling a new era for 100 Thieves VALORANT, the organization has bid farewell to its key players Derrek “Derrek” Ha and Brenden “stellar” McGrath.

Popular North American VALORANT team 100 Thieves has bid farewell to two pivotal players, Derrek and stellar, setting the stage for a fresh lineup in preparation for the upcoming 2024 season.  The departure of the duo represents a substantial shake-up for 100 Thieves VALORANT. Both players initially joined the organization in April 2022, during a pivotal period when former general manager Daniel “ddk” Kapadia and head coach Sean Gares took control of the roster.

It’s been one hell of a ride, @st9llar

Thank you for leading us in and out of game. pic.twitter.com/1VHZvfDmd1

— 100 Thieves Esports (@100T_Esports) September 12, 2023

 

The duo’s influence helped turn the team’s fortunes around following a dismal start to 100 Thieves’ VCT year.  However, with the subsequent departures of ddk and Gares, the team has been left in a state of flux, with former assistant coach Michael “Mikes” Hockom reportedly set to relinquish his head coaching duties in favor of former EG assistant coach Tony “Zikz” Gray.

Goodbyes are never easy, @DerrekOW

Thank you mr. clutch for the endless passion and positivity. pic.twitter.com/LvWXEtwGcG

— 100 Thieves Esports (@100T_Esports) September 12, 2023

 

As the organization undergoes this significant transformation, the team’s active roster is down to just three players, as indicated by the VCT Global Contract Database. The core trio consists of Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk, Sean “bang” Bezerra, and Matthew “Cryocells” Panganiban. Of these, Cryocells stands out as the big offseason acquisition from the previous year.

A New Chapter

The decision to revamp the roster follows a 2023 season that left much to be desired for 100 Thieves. The team finished in 8th place in the VCT 2023 Americas League, missing a coveted spot at VCT Masters Tokyo and the world championship. Furthermore, they faced a setback in the LCQ, losing their opening match to Sentinels, which led to an early elimination and brought their year to an unceremonious close.

As 100 Thieves seeks to restructure their squad, they find themselves with an abundance of talent to choose from. The VCT Americas League is witnessing several North American teams, including Cloud9, Evil Geniuses, and NRG, making their own roster adjustments. Additionally, there’s a pool of promising players from the Challengers scene that the organization can tap into.

Notably, there are indications that 100 Thieves may adopt a more fiscally conservative approach in 2024 to maintain financial stability. As the stage is set for an exciting chapter in the 100 Thieves story, the community awaits with bated breath to see the new acquisitions and how the team will perform in the upcoming year.

Header: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games