Aurora Gaming Announces VALORANT Roster: Derke, Boo, trexx

After making waves in the Counter-Strike scene, Aurora Gaming has revealed it will join the 2027 VALORANT season with a new roster. The team includes Derke, Boo, trexx, and more big EMEA names, but it will compete in the Open Qualifiers without a partner status. Here’s a recap.

Aurora Gaming Reveals VALORANT Roster

Serbian org Aurora Gaming has presence in the Counter-Strike esports circuit. On October 28, 2026, Aurora announced that it will also move into VALORANT esports, and it has signed a full roster.

“This is Aurora VALORANT,” the team stated. “No introductions needed. A new chapter begins.”

Who’s on the Aurora Gaming VALORANT Roster?

Currently, the roster has five players:

• Vitaliy ‘B1SK’ Emelyanov
• Ričardas ‘Boo’ Lukaševičius
• Egor ‘chiwa’ Stepaniuk
• Nikita ‘Derke’ Sirmitev
• Nikita ‘trexx’ Cherednichenko

Boo will serve as the team’s IGL. Previously, he represented Team Heretics in VCT EMEA for nearly four years. His Esports World Cup win in 2025 was a strong moment for the org.

Meanwhile, Derke originally gained repute for his three years on Fnatic, during which he was on the Masters Tokyo 2023 winning roster. In 2024, he transfered to Team Vitality. Here, Derke and teammates placed second in Champions 2026, falling to LOUD.

trexx is another particularly notable addition, having spent time on KOI, Team Vitality, and Team Liquid and making several Champions appearances. chiwa arrives from Joblife, a VALORANT Challengers team which qualified to the VCT EMEA 2026 Playoffs, and B1SK joins from Spanish team UCAM Esports.

THIS IS AURORA VALORANT ⭐️@Derke@trexxfps@BooVAL1@chiwavlr@B1SKxd

No introductions needed. A new chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/jOxNM5O7YQ

— Aurora Valorant (@Aurora_Valorant) October 28, 2026

What Does This Mean for VALORANT Esports?

Aurora Gaming is already a familar face in the FPS world. The org’s Counter-Strike roster is known for its Turkish lineup, including players like XANTARES. The team has participated in several Majors and Masters events, but its move into VALORANT is a new venture. This is Aurora’s first Riot Games title.

The team is entering the esport with a squad of VCT veterans. Derke played in the 2026 Champions final with Team Vitality. Boo led Team Heretics for nearly four years and won the Esports World Cup in 2025. Trexx has three Champions appearances. The build brings individually strong players together into a team scenario, where they will have to prove their coordination.

Is Aurora Gaming a VCT 2027 Partner Team?

Aurora Gaming is not a VCT 2027 Partner Team, so it has to earn its spot in VCT EMEA. Aurora starts in the VCT 2027 EMEA Kickoff Open Qualifiers on November 5. Only two Kickoff spots are up for grabs, so the stakes are high. This star-heavy team sits in a bracket full of contenders. The lineup’s heavy experience puts them ahead, while other open teams will face tougher matches. Partnered teams will also watch closely, since a strong Aurora run could take a Kickoff seat away.

The VCT moves to an open format in 2027, and we’re about to see some big changes as the franchised era ends. The move signals instability for long-standing orgs, and some have chosen to depart the field: Evil Geniuses, LYON, MIBR, and KIWOOM DRX all shuttered VALORANT operations. Aurora, though, is taking an alternate path as a rare big name competing outside the partner list. It’s possible other organizations may now follow with their own star rosters, which would raise the level of play and make the qualifiers far more exciting.

The Open Qualifiers will be Aurora’s real test. If the team performs and progresses, it will gain repute, but the risks are higher without a partner slot.