Evil Geniuses 2026: The Rebuild Continues – Championship Ambitions with New Star-Studded Roster
Evil Geniuses (EG), one of North America's most storied esports organizations, is gearing up for an ambitious 2026 season across multiple titles, with their Valorant division headlining a blockbuster roster rebuild centered around returning world champion Corbin "C0M" Lee. After a frustrating 2025 campaign marked by inconsistent results and internal restructuring, EG is banking on championship experience, international talent, and fresh synergies to reclaim their place among the elite.
A Rough 2025 Season Sets Stage for Rebuild
Evil Geniuses' 2025 Valorant season was defined by dramatic swings in performance and ultimately missed opportunities. The roster began the year with a disappointing 7th–8th place finish at the VCT Americas Kickoff, signaling early struggles and lack of consistency among the squad. However, the organization showed flashes of potential when it mattered most during VCT Americas Stage 1, where EG surged to a fourth-place finish and nearly qualified for Masters Toronto—a result that suggested the team had finally found their footing in the competitive landscape.
Unfortunately, EG proved unable to sustain this momentum. In VCT Americas Stage 2, the organization regressed dramatically, finishing in another 7th–8th place finish and failing to maintain international relevance. This yo-yo pattern throughout 2025—from playoff hopes to tournament elimination in a single stage—revealed fundamental problems with roster stability, in-game leadership, and consistency that leadership felt needed addressing at the organizational level.
The Championship Return: C0M Comes Home as IGL
The centerpiece of Evil Geniuses' 2026 rebuild is the return of Corbin "C0M" Lee, a player whose credentials are nearly unmatched in Valorant esports. C0M was instrumental in EG's VALORANT Champions 2023 victory, the organization's crowning achievement in competitive Valorant. After that triumph, C0M spent two years with Leviatán, where he achieved additional accolades: he won VCT 2024 Americas Stage 2 and finished third at VCT Champions 2024, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished players in North American Valorant.
What makes C0M's return even more significant is his new role. Rather than simply slotting back into a player position, C0M is being elevated to in-game leader (IGL), taking over strategic calling responsibilities from Nicholas "nitr0" Garrison. This move signals EG's intent to pair championship experience with tactical leadership, hoping C0M's proven ability to make high-pressure decisions in international tournaments will anchor the team's 2026 campaign.
Building Around Supamen: The Anchor and Bridge to Consistency
The only player retained from EG's 2025 roster is Phat "supamen" Le, who has been a stable presence in the Controller role for three consecutive years with the organization. Supamen's loyalty and consistency despite the team's rollercoaster 2025 season made him the natural cornerstone around which EG decided to rebuild. By retaining him and pairing him with championship-caliber teammates, EG is signaling continuity while transforming the roster around a trusted veteran.
Leviatán Reunites: Okeanos and C0M Rejoin Forces
The arrival of Anthony "Okeanos" Nguyen represents a critical link between EG's new roster and recent competitive success. Okeanos previously teamed with C0M at Leviatán, where the two showed promising chemistry despite the organization's overall struggles in 2025. Okeanos, who had been grinding in North American tier-two Valorant since 2021, finally received his first VCT opportunity with Leviatán in Stage 2 of 2025, and his impact was immediate.
Alongside C0M, Okeanos helped Leviatán surge back into playoffs contention in Stage 2 after a weak Stage 1 start, proving that the two possessed strong synergy and understanding. Though their Leviatán run ended when NRG eliminated them in the playoffs, the promise shown by the duo convinced EG to invest in reuniting them and expanding around that foundation.
Rising Tier-Two Talent: Bao Brings Momentum from M80
One of the most exciting additions to Evil Geniuses' 2026 roster is rookie Banh "bao" Bao Nguyen, a rising talent who made waves in North American tier-two Valorant during 2025. Bao rose to prominence with M80, finishing second in VCL NA Stage 1, before M80 unexpectedly withdrew from competitive Valorant midway through the year. After M80's departure, bao continued competing with SAD Esports, where he delivered steady performances that ultimately earned him his first VCT opportunity with Evil Geniuses.
What makes bao's addition particularly promising is his existing chemistry with Okeanos, the two having played together during their M80 days. This shared history suggests an immediate comfort level and established team play, potentially accelerating the new roster's cohesion period—a critical advantage in a competitive league where adaptation timelines are compressed.
International Firepower: Dgzin Brings Brazilian Excellence
To round out the quintet, Evil Geniuses signed Douglas "dgzin" Silva, a Brazilian duelist who brings international experience and aggressive playstyle to EG's new lineup. Dgzin's 2025 season was tumultuous by circumstance but ultimately redemptive: after starting the year with LOUD and experiencing their disappointing 0–5 Group Stage exit at VCT Stage 1, he found himself competing in Brazilian tier-two with Team Solid.
However, dgzin's talent proved undeniable. At VCT Americas Ascension (the qualifier tournament for non-franchised regions), Team Solid finished in third place, with dgzin delivering star-level performances that caught the attention of VCT franchises. His aggressive duelist play and international pedigree—he had previously competed for FURIA in 2023—made him an ideal candidate to inject firepower and regional diversity into EG's roster.
Coaching Stability: Potter Returns to Lead the New Vision
Providing continuity and experienced coaching guidance is Christine "potter" Chi, who has been EG's head coach since 2021 and remains a respected voice in competitive Valorant. Potter's return signals that EG views the coaching staff as a non-issue and places blame for 2025's underperformance squarely on roster construction rather than strategic guidance. With proven championship-level coaching and a new star-studded roster, the organizational foundation is in place for what EG is calling their "most ambitious rebuild yet."
2026 Ambitions: International Contention and Championship Dreams
Evil Geniuses has made their 2026 objectives crystal clear: return to international competition and ultimately vie for Champions glory. The team's official messaging declares that "this year's gonna be a movie," signaling confidence that the blend of championship experience (C0M), rising talent (bao), international firepower (dgzin), and proven consistency (supamen) will finally coalesce into a championship-caliber outfit.
The VCT 2026 Americas league will be the testing ground, with the season kicking off on January 1, 2026 at the VCT Americas Kickoff. If EG can avoid the inconsistency plague of 2025 and maintain the momentum they showed in Stage 1, a run to the international Masters events and potentially Champions 2026 is entirely within the realm of possibility for this revamped roster.
Broader Evil Geniuses Outlook Beyond Valorant
While Valorant represents the flagship rebuild, Evil Geniuses continues operations across multiple esports titles, though less attention has been devoted to their rosters in other games compared to their high-profile Valorant restructuring. The organization's Counter-Strike division has a storied history dating back to the early 2000s, though the organization has cycled in and out of the title multiple times, including a major hiatus from 2012–2019. EG's historical significance in Counter-Strike and their continued presence in competitive FPS titles ensures they remain a major stakeholder in North American esports beyond Valorant alone.
