T1 kicks brax, AZK from Valorant lineup after signing autimatic

T1’s Valorant division experiences another significant roster transformation with the confirmed exits of Braxton “brax” Pierce and Keven “AZK” Larivière. These departures coincide with the acquisition of ex-Cloud9 CS:GO standout Timothy “autimatic” Ta and the introduction of a fresh coaching perspective to guide the team forward.

Today we say our goodbyes to
@brax1wnl
and
@AZKcs_.

Thank you for being such an integral part of T1 VALORANT – best of luck in your future endeavours & we’ll see you on the server!
pic.twitter.com/maNryDGNxl

— T1 (@T1)
February 8, 2021

T1 currently finds itself in an intensive reconstruction period, actively reshaping its competitive lineup in preparation for upcoming Valorant Champions Tour competitions. The initial T1 Valorant squad, composed primarily of competitors previously associated with the iBUYPOWER competitive integrity incident from their Counter-Strike backgrounds, was originally considered among the most formidable rosters during Valorant’s developmental phase. Both AZK and brax transitioned to Valorant during the title’s emergence, with brax achieving the distinction of becoming the inaugural professional competitor to secure an organizational contract. T1 achieved championship round qualifications across numerous competitive events conducted throughout the game’s testing phase, preceding Riot Games’ official unveiling of the Ignition Series framework.

The organization began losing competitive ground as additional teams and established esports entities committed resources to Valorant. During the Ignition Series competitions, AZK, brax, and their teammates gradually diminished in tournament standings, suffering defeats as the professional field expanded with new organizational entries. The lineup additionally employed an excessively cautious tactical approach, frequently resulting from specific character selections made by brax, AZK and Sam “DaZeD” Marine, which limited their adaptability against evolving meta strategies.

Both competitors now enter the unrestricted free agent marketplace. While AZK and brax have previously participated with developmental squads, their established reputations and current competitive capabilities suggest multiple professional organizations may already be competing to secure their talents. A potential transition back to Counter-Strike represents another viable career pathway, particularly given the North American competitive environment’s current restructuring phase following several high-profile roster adjustments across organizations.

T1 is comprehensively restructuring its competitive roster while externally appearing to undergo substantial cultural evolution. Following the exit of strategic coach Daniel “fRoD” Montaner, reportedly concerning philosophical differences, the team has experienced instability regarding both personnel composition and in-game tactical approaches. T1 participated in the VCT qualification tournament with an entirely new strategic composition that ultimately fell to AndBox, eliminating the squad from participation in the inaugural North American VCT championship event.

With AZK and brax exiting the organization, T1 maintains one additional roster position to fill with a competitor who aligns with the team’s renewed competitive philosophy and organizational direction. With the next VCT competition commencing within days, anticipate either a high-profile acquisition or an evaluation period for emerging talent to complete the reformed lineup.

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