Cloud9 Swaps Notexxd for v1c

Cloud9 is making moves this week, and its latest roster adjustment is a swap that puts former starter v1c back on the battlefield. Notexxd, however, is being cut. Here’s everything to know about the move.

Cloud9 Has Benched Notexxd

On July 10, 2026, North American team Cloud9 announced that core VALORANT roster member NJaden “Notexxd” Anderson is being cut. Notexxd, who quickly ascended from collegiate play and joined C9 in May, has been with the organization for just two months. The team elaborated in several X.com posts, explaining that the move stems from performance issues in the VCT Americas circuit:

“Notexxd joined us at the tail end of Stage 1 – playing our Stage 1 match vs G2, the EWC NA Qualifiers, and two months of practice since. During that stretch, it became clear to us that we weren’t progressing at the pace needed to compete in Stage 2.“

Indeed, Cloud9 placed 11th in the Esports World Cup NA qualifier, failing to enter the tournament’s main event. Its VCT Americas standing also sharply declined between Kickoff and Stage 1. VCT Stage 2 will have huge implications for the team. It determines which Americas orgs get slots at VALORANT Champions 2026 (check out our Stage 2 guide here).

Cloud9 also revealed that “A ‘Line of Sight’ documentary episode will be released early next week.” This will contain “more insight [into the roster changes].”

The org closed with a reply, “Thank you for your time, Jaden, and we wish you the best of luck in the future.” Notexxd simply replied on his personal account with an emoji: G_G .

Cloud9 Moves v1c to Starting Roster

After releasing Notexxd, C9 decided to return Controller main Victor “v1c” Truong to its main roster. v1c originally joined the organization in 2024. His recent shift to Tier 2 play placed him on Azure Dragon Gaming, a Challengers League team. The pro had told fans, “I wanted to take a break from tier 1 / competitive Valorant, as I know how intense the workload of a tier 1 player is. I got offered to play tier 2 from home, with a less workload schedule that gives me freedom to do whatever.”

When C9 cut Notexxd, v1c reportedly “informed [C9] his Tier 1 fire had come back during his run in [VALORANT Challengers].”

C9 continued: “He is ready to compete in VCT again, and his familiarity with the team made this a difficult, but necessary, call.”

v1c also elaborated on his personal X.com account. He revealed he had remained in contact with Cloud9 during his time on ADG, and stated:

“I always felt a bit of guilt abandoning the team during Stage 1, so it felt like this was a great opportunity to finish out the year strong and do right by the C9 fans and my teammates. I own the decisions I have made; all I want to do is put my all into winning Stage 2 to give the fans and team what they deserve. Thank you to ADG, C9, and the fans for putting faith in and trusting me after everything.”

What Does This Mean for Cloud9?

Cloud9’s VALORANT performance has been on the decline the past few years. The organization is known as a North American powerhouse in several games, and was star player TenZ’s original home team. It was also one of the first esports brands to invest in the title: C9 jumped into competitive VAL in 2020, right as Riot Games launched it. The team, made up largely of former Counter-Strike players, reached the playoffs of Valorant Champions 2021. It also earned a runner-up finish at Red Bull Home Ground #3 in 2023.

Recent seasons have brought more roster turbulence for Cloud9 as the Americas region becomes increasingly competitive. G2 Esports, NRG, and Evil Geniuses, among other teams, have emerged as fearsome opponents. Heading into the 2026 season, Cloud9 has leaned on frequent lineup changes, including signing former SEN player Zellsis as IGL. The team is trying to strike a delicate balance between fielding players with Tier 1 experience and training new talent to matriculate in its ranks.

The roster changes signal Cloud9’s intent to step up the competition against its regional opponents. In addition, C9 is heavily investing in its VALORANT scene overall: the team also recently announced its return to the Game Changers circuit with a full player lineup.