TL;DR
- Cloud9 officially signs former CSGO pro mitch as third Valorant roster member
- Mitch brings 15 years FPS experience with successful tournament results as stand-in
- Growing trend of CSGO players transitioning to Valorant for new competitive opportunities
- Strategic roster building continues with potential signings of vice and shinobi
- Migration patterns signal potential talent drain concerns for CSGO competitive scene
Cloud9 methodically constructs its professional Valorant lineup, securing the third official player for their competitive squad. This strategic approach to roster building reflects the organization’s commitment to establishing a formidable presence in Riot’s tactical shooter ecosystem.
Former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive professional Mitch “mitch” Semago represents the newest acquisition for Cloud9’s active roster. He joins established talents Tyson “TenZ” Ngo and Skyler “Relyks” Weaver, creating a core trio with diverse FPS backgrounds.
While his contract status recently became formalized, Mitch has actively competed under the Cloud9 banner since May in a substitute capacity. During this trial period, he demonstrated exceptional synergy with the team, achieving impressive tournament placements including runner-up finishes at both the Immortals First Light competition and Pulse Invitational.
Another familiar face joins the fray…
A mainstay of
@TenZ_CS
and FriendZ, please join us in welcoming
@mitchcsgo
to the
#C9VAL
team as our 3rd player!
????????
https://t.co/99QKNJH5WF
pic.twitter.com/47TDYQGdD8— Cloud9 (@Cloud9)
July 15, 2020
Despite currently having only three contracted players, Cloud9 has maintained remarkable lineup consistency across their last four competitive events. Daniel “vice” Kim and Josh “shinobi” Abastado have effectively filled remaining positions, and continued strong performances will likely result in their permanent addition to complete the five-player roster.
Additional examples of CSGO professionals transitioning to Valorant:
- Mixwell returns to G2 Esports, this time for Valorant
- Former Cloud9 players Freakazoid and Zellsis depart CSGO
- Ninjas in Pyjamas recruits ex-Overwatch League star alongside four CSGO veterans for Valorant division
Exodus from CSGO to Valorant continues
Mitch delayed his formal CSGO retirement announcement until today, though he’s been actively participating in Valorant competitive circuits since April.
“My Counter-Strike journey spans fifteen years, with four to five years dedicated to professional competition. I’m transitioning to Valorant because I’ve experienced diminishing engagement with CS. The game mechanics have become overly familiar and predictable for me. I’m pursuing a fresh competitive start within Valorant’s ecosystem, and I’ve already established my competitive home with Cloud9.” Mitch explained.
Mitch initially gained recognition in CSGO competitive circles during his tenure with Selfless Gaming, where he secured victory at the WESG 2016 Americas Finals championship. His career progression included stints with prominent organizations like Dignitas, Splyce, and eUnited, achieving varying levels of competitive success across different tournament circuits.
His final notable professional CSGO appearance occurred with Bad News Bears. The squad competed in Flashpoint Season 1 under the FunPlus Phoenix banner, ultimately placing seventh in the tournament standings.
Former Bad News Bears colleagues Austin “crashies” Roberts and Michael “dapr” Gulino have already transitioned to Valorant, joining T1 and Sentinels organizations respectively.
Mitch represents the most recent addition to an expanding roster of mid-tier and retired CSGO professionals seeking renewed competitive opportunities within Riot’s innovative first-person shooter framework. While numerous transitioning players have passed their competitive peak or encountered skill plateaus in CSGO, the potential exodus of emerging talent remains unpredictable, raising concerns about potential competitive scene dilution.
Strategic Considerations for Players Transitioning Between Games:
When moving between tactical shooters like CSGO and Valorant, professionals should evaluate several critical factors. Understanding ability cooldowns, agent-specific mechanics, and economic system differences requires substantial adaptation time. Many players underestimate the learning curve associated with Valorant’s character-based abilities compared to CSGO’s utility-based system.
Common transition mistakes include attempting to directly transfer CSGO movement mechanics to Valorant’s different movement system. The two games feature distinct recoil patterns, with Valorant emphasizing first-shot accuracy versus CSGO’s spray control mastery. Successful adaptors typically dedicate 50-100 hours to mechanical retraining before achieving competitive proficiency.
Advanced optimization strategies involve focusing on ability usage timing rather than raw aim development. The most effective transitions occur when players leverage their existing game sense while developing new agent-specific expertise.
Action Checklist
- Analyze agent abilities and identify those complementing your CSGO playstyle
- Practice Valorant-specific mechanics including ability combinations and economic management
- Participate in community tournaments to gauge competitive readiness
- Study professional Valorant VODs to understand meta strategies and team coordination
- Network with established Valorant organizations and players for potential opportunities
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