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Acend bench Zeek ahead of VCT Last chance Qualifier

Acend have benched their star player, Aleksander “Zeek” Zygmunt, following a dismal performance in the VCT EMEA Challengers. The... Shubh | 2. July 2022

Acend have benched their star player, Aleksander “Zeek” Zygmunt, following a dismal performance in the VCT EMEA Challengers. The team is conducting trials with new players to complete their Valorant roster before the VCT EMEA Last Chance Qualifier.

Acend have benched the 20-years-old Valorant professional to improve their chances in LCQ.  Zeek’s benching came as a surprise to the fans and some of them even speculated that it was related to his mental health. Upon hearing these speculations, the 20-year-old promptly denied them on Twitter, asserting that things have changed. The Polish player did admit, though, that he had missed a match in Stage 1 because of mental health problems. 

The Polish player made his professional debut in Valorant with the team Those guys in 2020. He played in the B-Tier competition for more than six months before being acquired by G2 in January 2021. He won Red Bull Home Ground with G2, but after a roster switch, he joined Ascent to take Jose Luis “koldamenta” Aranguren Herrero’s position before the third stage of the 2021 VCT. His outstanding performances helped the team achieve success at the Valorant Championship 2021, earning him the title of MVP.

Acend continue to struggle at VCT

After beating Gambit, Acend’s young roster made headlines by taking home the first-ever VCT Championships 2021. However, those were the good old days of Acend, as their performance is completely different in 2022, and so were the results.

Acend kicked off the year with a win over SuperMassive Blaze in the VCT EMEA Stage-1. Despite a good start, the squad concluded the group stage run with a 2-3 record after three disappointing losses against Guild Esports, Fnatic, and BBL esports. Despite not making it to the Playoffs, they were able to secure a position in VCT EMEA Stage 2 with their 9th–10th-place Stage 1 finish.

In Stage 2, the team mounted a stunning comeback, ending the group’s stage run with a 4-1 record. The team only suffered one defeat to Fnatic and went on to the playoffs. However, their trip took an unexpected turn when M3 swept them in the first round of the playoffs, sending them to the lower bracket quarterfinals. In the subsequent game, Acend lost against FPX and were eliminated without securing a place in the Masters.

After their disappointing exit from VCT Stage 1, the team first benched Santeri “BONECOLD” Sassi and then Vladyslav “Kiles” Shvets. They parted ways with the team within a few days and Vakaris “vakk” Bebravičius and Ondřej “MONSTEERR” Petrů were brought in to take their place. The new additions also failed to make a positive impact as Acend’s performance continued to lag. However, The team is holding a tryout for the new player who can potentially represent them in the LCQ, which is scheduled to begin on July 8th.

Acend’s current Valorant Lineup

  • Vakaris “vakk” Bebravičius
  • Ondřej “MONSTEERR” Petrů
  • Mehmet Yağız “cNed” İpek
  • Patryk “starxo” Kopczyński

Header: Riot Games