Look Sports Media – Maximilian "Demon1" Mazanov, the controversial Valorant duelist, has found a new temporary home with Cloud9. This move comes after the heartbreaking news that Francis "OXY" Hoang will be stepping away from the active roster due to a devastating family emergency.
Demon1’s arrival marks yet another chapter in his turbulent career, making Cloud9 his sixth franchised team in the Valorant scene. He previously donned the jerseys of Evil Geniuses (EG), NRG, Leviatán, and Dragon Ranger Gaming. Following a brief stint with Dragon Ranger Gaming, culminating in an appearance at Valorant Champions 2025, Demon1 was a free agent during the offseason.
The Russian player is best known for his pivotal role in EG’s championship run at VCT Champions 2023. However, since that peak, Demon1’s career has been marred by inconsistency and criticisms regarding his work ethic, communication, and inflexible playstyle. His time with NRG failed to replicate the success he found with EG, and a subsequent move to Leviatán saw the team struggle to make an impact, finishing with a disappointing 1-4 record in VCT Americas 2025 Stage 1.
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Many observers view this temporary stint with Cloud9 as a make-or-break opportunity for the former world champion. While his long-term future with the team remains uncertain, Demon1 is confirmed to fill OXY’s shoes this weekend, taking over his duelist responsibilities.
The circumstances surrounding Demon1’s arrival are deeply rooted in tragedy. On January 21st, Cloud9 announced that OXY would be absent from the weekend’s VCT Americas Kickoff matches due to a family emergency.
In their statement, Cloud9 expressed their support for OXY: "Cloud9 is deeply saddened to share that due to a family emergency, OXY has returned home to Houston and will not be starting in VCT Americas this weekend. Our entire organization is fully behind Francis as he takes the time and space he needs, and we ask that you respect his privacy during this time. We have prepared a substitute player to fill in his spot for the time being until he is ready to return to the team. We will be sharing more news on the substitution shortly."
OXY later revealed the heart-wrenching news that his mother had passed away from cancer. He shared a message on social media, saying, "Sunday night, my mother passed away from cancer. I’m at a loss for words. I won’t be able to play the matches this weekend because of her funeral, but I have two favors to ask. 1 pray for my mother. 2. Call your parents and talk to them. You’ll never know when it’s the last time."
The Valorant community mourns with OXY during this difficult time, while Demon1 steps in to fill the void, hoping to prove his worth and revive his career under the Cloud9 banner.
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