GLYPH returns to Cloud9 as Zellsis, OXY and Jackk leave

Cloud9 have kept only FireBallOps from a 2026 lineup that never reached an international event, and GIANTX, Gen.G and G2 have also cleared space for the 2027 VCT season.

Cloud9 have signed Conner “GLYPH” Garcia and parted ways with Jordan “Zellsis” Montemurro, Francis “OXY” Hoang and Jack “Jackk” Foote. The organisation posted a farewell video, “The end of an era”, on Monday evening and welcomed GLYPH 20 minutes later, at 21:19 CET.

Cloud9 wrote “BACK” because GLYPH spent a few weeks with Cloud9 Academy around the turn of 2022. The 22-year-old controller started 2026 at Gentle Mates, who were second at EMEA Kickoff and top eight at Masters Santiago, and finished it at ENVY. He joins FireBallOps, the only player left from the 2026 roster.

Zellsis had returned for a second spell in October 2025 as in-game leader. OXY has already moved on: Sentinels signed the duelist on Monday and added brawk a day later. Jackk, an initiator, arrived from YFP in May.

Cloud9 had finished sixth at Americas Kickoff and gone 1-4 in the Stage 1 group stage, and the new faces could not turn it round: the team went out in the Stage 2 play-ins. Two weeks ago they lost their partner seat, so 2027 will be their first season outside the partnership since it began in 2023.

GIANTX start from zero

GIANTX said goodbye to Eduard-George “ara” Hanceriuc, Karel “Flickless” Maeckelbergh and Miłosz “westside” Duda on Tuesday, which leaves the organisation without a single player.

The three carried GIANTX to Champions Paris in 2025, but 2026 brought two ninth to tenth places and a 1-4 Stage 2 group stage. Flickless has joined UCAM Esports Club and westside has signed with Joblife, while ara is a free agent.

GIANTX were not picked as partners either, and they line up alongside UCAM and Joblife in the playoffs of the EMEA Kickoff Europe qualifier, which starts on 25 November.

Gen.G and G2 make room

Gen.G let Ash, Efina and coach peri go as their contracts ran out. Efina had joined as in-game leader in July, while Ash and peri had been with the team since the 2025 season. Gen.G went 5-0 in the Stage 2 group stage but lost both playoff series. They are one of Korea’s two partners for 2027.

G2 Esports said farewell to Andrej “BABYBAY” Francisty on Tuesday evening, thanking him on X: “Caster, sub, coach, teammate. Whatever the role, you gave it your all.”

Promoted from stand-in for 2026, he helped G2 win Americas Stage 1 and finish fourth at Masters Santiago and Champions Shanghai. valyn left last week. jawgemo, trent and leaf remain, but jawgemo is set to join Team Vitality, Sheep Esports reports, and G2 are close to signing HYUNMIN.