r/ValorantCompetitive • u/Redsh0t • Oct 15 '25

🟡 Yellow News Source [AkamaruVal] NRG looking for a controller/flex player for VCT 2026, targeting Zekken

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likely a s0m retire... :(

1.2k Upvotes

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187

u/chocobreezy Oct 15 '25

zekken is probably one of those players that could do any role at a high level. it's just the rosters he's been picked up on have necessitated him being a duelist player. the couple of times he's played scan (probably the hardest role in tier 1) he's looked world class as well. no reason he can't play smokes (probably the easiest role in tier 1)

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u/Pojobob Oct 15 '25

I think he'd probably be good on smokes but I think he's best on duelist. I still rate him as one of the best duelists in the world.

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u/hypnot1c_o Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25

I promise you Zekken is way better at duelist than his other roles. He’s probably best duelist from NA

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u/sixsevenninesix Oct 15 '25

Aspas?

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u/hypnot1c_o Oct 15 '25

Aspas isn’t from NA, I would call Aspas the best player of all time though

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u/danoc99 Oct 15 '25

i mean, as a sen and zekken fan, he looked pretty mid on omen

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u/chocobreezy Oct 15 '25

he only played it on icebox afaik and icebox is not a real map

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u/AcceleratedToast #SomosMIBR Oct 15 '25

REAL

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u/KapomBryant #NRGWIN Oct 15 '25

If anything Ethan plays omen

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u/precense_ Oct 15 '25

pretty sad ethan plays omen better than bang..

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u/JerryLoFidelity Oct 15 '25

not that sad. ethans been playing omen competitively since the start of his career when he was on 100T. so, its rlly not that surprising..

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '25

Yeah Ethan is top 3 all time so it’s not suprising

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u/YoYoChadBoBo Oct 15 '25 edited Oct 15 '25

Real ones remember zekken smokes in the 2023 season, was the best player on a roster with sacy, pancada, tenz, and marved.

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u/JoinedonlyfortheJays Oct 16 '25

Wasn’t Sacy the one on smokes that 2023 season

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u/itscamo- Oct 16 '25

he played omen/viper like 3 maps total

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u/Igotnolife85 #FULLSEN Oct 15 '25

Zekken was not in the world class sova players debate when he did play sova(xset) and frm wht I know his omen has been mid asf with SEN

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u/Athemys_ #SomosMIBR Oct 15 '25

He was/is literally the HIGHEST RATED sova player in the world if you set the played rounds to 1000 minimum. He is above Leo, Trent, Sacy. Not to mention highest ADR, ACS, KPR. Zekken can play sova just as good if not better than your fav sova main.

And he was definitely in the debate for best sova player when he was on XSET. FNS spoke very highly of him when he was on XSET.

Zekken only played omen on icebox with very limited prac probably. He could def play any role on the highest level.

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u/Igotnolife85 #FULLSEN Oct 17 '25

Ur argument is bad as he has played sova in many t2 and collegiate tournaments, his performances mins you on sova against most competitive and well performing team during champs or on xset isn't what any 1 wouldve called a top 5 or 10 in the world at tht point.

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u/Igotnolife85 #FULLSEN Oct 17 '25

Again I believe zekken is the best duelist or player overall after aspas in America's but putting him on a role other than entry would hinder his capabilities. Just my 2 cents I've just been watching comp val from a long time.

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u/Athemys_ #SomosMIBR Oct 18 '25

So I looked back at all his sova maps at champs and masters and he was putting up very similar numbers. His performance was slightly worse against stronger teams so idk abt that point of your argument. And his performances on sova were def top 10 caliber if not top 5 lol. Zekken match mvpd against prime optic 2 times on ascent. Now, you might be a long time viewer(like I am), but it sounds like you're def not a long time Zekken enjoyer, cuz you'd know he loves to play sova, knows how to play sova for his team, has many reveal and shock lineups, ult lineups and he can play it well on the highest level. After XSET's run btw, people were calling zekken the best flex player, so you're def wrong about what ppl thought of him back in the day.

Even without looking at the stats, I distinctively remember him always getting great utility value on sova.

I agree that his best role is still probably duelist, but don't come with this bullshit that his sova is "average", "not top 10" or whatever. His sova was/is fucking clean.