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More Roster Moves are set to shake the Valorant Scene
- Nova Esports moves to an all-Chinese roster, benching SWERL in favor of OBONE.
- Communication issues were cited as the primary reason for the roster change.
- LEVIATÁN adds Rossy to their lineup following a disappointing Kickoff performance.
The Valorant esports scene continues to shift as teams make adjustments to their rosters ahead of Stage 1. Nova Esports and LEVIATÁN are the latest organizations to announce key lineup changes, both aiming to improve their performance after underwhelming Kickoff results. Stay up to date on VALORANT rumors thanks to our expert esports tips!
Nova Esports Embraces All Chinese Lineup
Nova Esports has officially gone all Chinese, benching Australian import Ali “SWERL” Kobraee in favor of Chen “OBONE” Yijie. The decision came after Nova was eliminated from the VCT China Kickoff tournament, where they finished with a 2-2 record before being swept by Dragon Ranger Gaming.
[2025 VCT China League Stage 1 · NOVA Roster]🎮
Head Coach: 24K
Assistant Coach: fore
Duelist: NOVA-cb
Initiator: NOVA-o0o0o
Controller: NOVA-Ezeir
Sentinel: NOVA-GuanG
Sentinel: NOVA-OBONE
Substitute: NOVA-Swerl pic.twitter.com/ArSfHXRRAY— Nova Esports (@NovaEsportsTeam) March 7, 2025
Although demonstrating potential in offseason competitions such as the Superb Cup and the WALL-E Cup, Nova found it difficult to duplicate that performance on a larger scale. The team’s gamble to use OBONE during the China Evolution Series tournament to solve their discrepancies paid off. On their path to the title, Nova easily defeated leading teams like FunPlus Phoenix, Bilibili Gaming, and Wolves Esports.
Nova’s in-game leader, Wang “CB” Qingchuan, cited communication issues as a key factor in the decision to bench SWERL. The shift to a full Chinese-speaking lineup appears to have unlocked the team’s potential, with CB confident that the roster change was the right move.
Nova Esports Roster
- Ye “o0o0o” Xiaodong
- Chen “OBONE” Yijie
- Wang “CB” Qingchuan
- Zhao “Ezeir” Zejun
- Guang “GuanG” Honglin
- Ali “SWERL” Kobraee (Bench)
- Shao “24K” Yubo (Gaffer)
- Han “fore” Qibing (Assistant)
LEVIATÁN Reinforces with Rossy
Meanwhile, LEVIATÁN has made a midseason adjustment by adding Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo to their starting roster, replacing Nathan “nataNk” Bocqueho. The move comes after LEVIATÁN’s disappointing top-six finish at the Americas Kickoff event, a result that fell short of expectations following their standout 2024 season.
Not all rumors are true, or are they?
WELCOME @RossyUA pic.twitter.com/ZAbQ6ufVQ1
— LEVIATAN ENG (@LeviatanENG) March 4, 2025
Rossy joins LEVIATÁN after a brief stint with Cloud9 during the offseason. Although he missed out on Kickoff, his impressive individual performances at Red Bull Homeground, where he was the highest rated player, made him a highly sought-after free agent. With experience from both the Pacific and Americas regions, Rossy brings firepower and versatility to LEVIATÁN as they look to bounce back in Stage 1.
LEVIATÁN’s head coach, Dimitar “Itopata” Staev, explained that nataNk struggled to adapt to the team’s system, prompting the decision to bring in Rossy as a better fit.
LEVIATÁN Roster
- Francisco “kiNgg” Aravena
- Max “Demon1” Mazanov
- Ian “tex” Botsch
- Corbin “C0M” Lee
- Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo
- Juan “Daykiry” Garcia (Manager)
- Dimitar “Itopata” Staev (Gaffer)
- Casper “Desmo” Rasmussen (Assistant)
Both Nova Esports and LEVIATÁN will debut their new lineups in Stage 1 of their respective regions, hoping that these roster moves will propel them to stronger performances. The forthcoming games will demonstrate whether these choices can fully unleash the potential of both teams, with communication and teamwork at the core of these adjustments. Don’t forget to bet on your favorite teams at BetUS Sportsbook & Casino, as we have a plethora of VALORANT odds for you to enjoy!
