It was a surprise to everyone. This Friday, Dragon Ranger Gaming announced the arrival of Maximilian "Demon1" Mazanov to replace Ilya "vo0kashu" Ushakov for Champions Paris 2025. Sheep Esports sources indicate that vo0kashu is facing visa issues that could jeopardize his participation at VALORANT Worlds. The Russian Sentinel will most likely miss at least the first matches of the competition, which is scheduled to take place in France from September 12 to October 5.

Back from hell

Demon1 rose to prominence in 2023 during his rookie season with Evil Geniuses. His exceptional performances helped secure a historic championship run. He was crowned world champion at VALORANT Champions 2023 in Los Angeles, bringing North America its first international title. The American/Russian player earned Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors at that event after recording the tournament’s highest player rating and joint-highest kill-death ratio. His explosive aim and confident Duelist playstyle quickly made him one of the standout stars of the competitive scene.

Following his championship triumph, Demon1 became one of the most sought-after VALORANT talents. He briefly competed with NRG before joining Leviatán at the end of 2024. Ultimately, he was benched by mid-2025. His signing with DRG ahead of Champions Paris marks Demon1's high-profile return to top-tier competition. He brings invaluable big-game experience and a champion’s mindset to the Chinese squad.

DRG’s Road to Champions Paris

DRG earned its spot at VALORANT Champions 2025 by competing in the Chinese league. After a strong Stage 2 playoff run in VCT China, the team clinched one of the final qualification slots for Worlds via the regional points standings. DRG's impressive playoff performance, which included a key victory over the defending world champions, EDward Gaming, earned them the necessary points to claim the last ticket from their region.

The tournament, which will crown the VALORANT world champion, is set to begin on September 12 in France. Dragon Ranger Gaming was drawn into Group D and is scheduled to open its campaign on September 14 against T1 from Korea. Demon1's addition provides DRG with a proven international star and added flexibility in the event roster. The organization is confident, the team will be prepared to compete at the highest level in Paris.