VALORANT: cNed returns to FUT Esports roster ahead of VCT EMEA Stage 2

After being benched earlier in 2025 by FUT Esports, 2021 World Champion Mehmet “cNed” Yağız İpek is back in the team for the VCT EMEA Stage 2. He is expected to take the place of Ata “ATA KAPTAN” Tan, who was not listed in the active roster in FUT’s announcement on Monday, July 14.

This isn’t the only change, as Eray “GAIS” Sarıkaya, the team’s head coach since September 2021, has been replaced by Ukrainian coach Ivan “Johnta” Shevtsov. GAIS will remain within the organization, as his contract runs until 2026.

Out of a project since February, Johnta returns to coaching in EMEA after spending nearly three years in Asia, whether with Fennel in Challengers Japan or more recently with Zeta Division in the VCT Pacific. During his four months with the latter, he struggled to steer the team in the right direction, notably finishing in the 9th–12th bracket during the Kickoff, following losses to NS RedForce and Paper Rex. A result that likely cost him his job, forcing him to wait until Stage 2 to return to top-tier VALORANT.

For his comeback, he’ll be working with a fully Turkish roster, featuring the return of cNed. Absent from official matches for nearly ten months, cNed only played two games during that time, with Valiant in the EMEA Challengers after Split 2. He rejoins a team currently mid-table in the VCT EMEA, which finished fourth in the Kickoff and placed 5th–6th in Stage 1. While they came close to qualifying for the Esports World Cup, they have not played in any international tournaments this year — a first for FUT. With these changes, the Turkish organization is clearly seeking a second wind and is aiming for qualification to Champions Paris this coming September.