Log in

Demon1 to Paris? Dragon Ranger Gaming Announce Former VALORANT Champions MVP

Demon1 to Paris? Dragon Ranger Gaming Announce Former VALORANT Champions MVP

Kaustavmani Choudhury

Kaustavmani Choudhury

5 Sep, 2025, 14:48

|

Last updated: 5 Sep, 2025, 14:57

Dragon Ranger Gaming has officially announced via their X account that they have signed Maximilian "Demon1" Mazanov, the 2023 VALORANT Champions MVP, ahead of VALORANT Champions Paris 2025. The move comes after weeks of speculation linking Demon1 to the team, particularly following rumors that he might substitute for Ilya "vo0kashu" Ushakov, who has been facing difficulties in obtaining his Schengen visa for the tournament.

A Tumultuous Career Since Champions 2023

Demon1’s rise to stardom came with Evil Geniuses during their iconic VALORANT Champions 2023 victory. However, his trajectory since then has been rocky.

He signed with NRG for the 2024 season, but failed to deliver results, with the team bowing out early in VCT 2024 Americas Stage 1 before eventually releasing him in October. Leviatán picked him up shortly after, but Demon1 spent the end of his time on the bench for three months before being let go once again. DRG now marks his fourth team in just three years as he looks for redemption on the big stage.

Will Demon1 Play in Paris?

While Demon1 has been signed as a replacement option for vo0kashu, DRG currently has a nine-man roster, leaving uncertainty about who will feature on the main stage. With Champions 2025 marking only their second international appearance after Masters Shanghai 2024, DRG faces a critical decision: rely on their current lineup or place their trust in Demon1’s past experience.

Despite the roster shuffle, DRG enters Champions in its best form in recent memory, fresh off its strong 2nd place finish in VCT China 2025 Stage 2. For a team still carving out its international presence, adding a proven player like Demon1 – even after a downturn in performance – could prove to be a worthwhile gamble.

Demon1’s addition injects both hope and uncertainty into DRG’s Champions 2025 campaign. Should he rediscover even a glimpse of the dominance he showcased in 2023, Dragon Ranger Gaming may have secured the firepower they need for a deep run in Paris.

Follow Strafe Esports for the latest VALORANT news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

Read More:

VALORANT Champions 2025 Group Stage: Pick'Ems Guide and Rewards

Latest news

Esports Nations Cup 2026 Confirms 16-Game Lineup for the Inaugural Event

The Esports Foundation has officially confirmed the complete 16-game lineup for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, the inaugural global nation-based esports competition set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2–29, 2026. Over 100,000 players are expected to compete across hundreds of qualification events spanning 100 nations and territories throughout the year.

Kaustavmani Choudhury

VCT 2027 Introduces Fresh New Format: More Tournaments, Open Qualification, New Path

Introduced in 2023, the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) as we know it is now in the final year of its first iteration. As fans await the remainder of this season, Riot looks ahead already to 2027 and the anticipated changes. A series of massive changes are coming for VCT starting next year and there’s a lot to look forward to.

Disney+ Expands KeSPA Partnership to Stream More Esports Events in 2026

Disney+ has announced an expanded partnership with the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) to livestream a wider slate of Korean and pan-Asian esports competitions globally throughout 2026, building on an initial deal signed in September 2025.

Kaustavmani Choudhury

VCT Americas Stage 1 2026: Format, Teams, Schedule, and More

VCT Americas 2026 Stage 1 begins April 10 as 12 top teams compete in a two-group format for a chance to qualify for Masters London. With powerhouses like NRG, LOUD, Sentinels, and G2 Esports in the mix, the tournament promises intense matchups, a structured group stage, and high-stakes playoffs.

Esports Foundation Announces the 40 Clubs for 2026 Club Partner Program

Today, the Esports Foundation (EF) announced the selected 40 esports clubs for the 2026 Club Partner Program. The program, a $20M dollar initiative, provides funding and support for all the selected clubs. Now in its 3rd year, over $100M has been reportedly invested to date.

VALORANT Patch 12.06: Updates to Waylay and Viper, New Yoru Voicelines, and More

VALORANT Patch 12.06 may not deliver the biggest of updates to the game, but it's certainly worth taking a look at all the same for a few concrete reasons. From small updates to Waylay (which should result in a slight nerf) and Viper, to new voicelines for Yoru and a long list of bug fixes, the new VALORANT update will continue to drive the game towards its most balanced and polished state.

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Riot Games Issues Procedural Update on Florescent's SA Allegations

Riot Games has officially released a procedural update regarding the sexual assault allegations made against former Apeks VALORANT player and Game Changers champion Ava "florescent" Eugene, concluding that no violations of its Global Code of Conduct were found.

Kaustavmani Choudhury

Comments (0)

Log in to comment on this match