Oxygen entered into NA with its academy roster in 2022, featuring emerging talents like Reduxx and Verno , who would eventually join the main lineup. However, they did not participate in VCT. By the end of 2022, Oxygen replaced their academy team with a squad designed to compete in Challengers and ascend to the Americas League. Retaining Verno , they added seasoned players, ex-C9 pro mitch and skuba. The team easily qualified for Challengers and steadily improved over the season, bolstered by Reduxx 's return after he reached the age threshold. Nevertheless, a loss to eventual Ascension winner, The Guard , ended their playoff run at fourth place.
mitch, who attended Champions 2021 with C9, took up the reins of IGL for his new role on Oxygen (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)
Heading into 2024, Oxygen added Masters-winning Sentinel dapr , forming the latest iteration of the roster. They dominated the offseason, winning multiple tournaments, including the Ludwig x Tarik Invitational 2, and were favorites to reach Ascension. Early in the year, they lived up to expectations, achieving a 3-2 regular season record and winning the Mid-Season Cup. They continued their strong performance into the Split 2 Playoffs, but an early upset to M80 placed them in the lower bracket. Oxygen then rebounded by defeating top-seeded DarkZero Esports . However, a surprise loss to TSM in the lower round 3 ended their season in fourth place again.
So far, the organization has not announced its plans for their remaining roster, which consists of dapr , Reduux, and Verno ; however, former players and staff indicated these moves are part of an overall exit from Valorant exports.
Despite missing out on Ascension, mitch and skuba, now free agents, will be compelling options for Partnership teams looking to rebuild for 2025. Head coach bonkar and assistant coach Rustun are other high-profile options, often praised for turning Oxygen into Ascension contender.
Oxygen Esports is now:
- Andrew " Verno " Maust
- Yassin " Reduxx " Aboulalazm
- Michael " dapr " Gulino
