The king is back to reclaim his crown. As the
Esports Nations Cup unveiled the sixteen nations directly qualified for the event on Tuesday, Canada was among the confirmed participants, with one name in particular capturing the community's attention. After announcing his retirement from
VALORANT professional play at the end of 2024, Tyson “
TenZ” Ngo is set to return to competition. The former player considered as one if not the best player of all time has been named among the players who will represent Canada in Riyadh from November 8 to 15.
He will be joined by a roster packed with established VCT Americas talent. Coached by Dakota “Stunner” MacLeod, currently the head coach of ENVY, Canada's lineup consists of:
- Tyson “TenZ” Ngo
- Adam “mada” Pampuch
- Daniel “eeiu” Vucenovic
- Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen
- Jonah “JonahP” Pulice
- GianFranco “koalanoob” Potestio
- Alexander “Zander” Dituri
Now a content creator for T1, TenZ will not be the only player returning from an extended absence from professional competition. Marved is also set to make his comeback to represent Canada. The veteran previously played alongside TenZ on Sentinels in 2023 before joining NRG in 2024 for what was expected to be his final year as a professional player.
A potential title contender ?
Canada will also be able to rely on one of the most accomplished players currently competing in VCT Americas. Mada has continued to perform at a high level with NRG and has qualified for every international event with the organization thus far. Despite a more challenging period following time away from competition earlier this season, JonahP remains one of the most experienced players in the region and a three-time VCT Americas champion with G2 Esports in 2025. FURIA’s Initiator eeiu rounds out what is expected to be Canada's starting lineup, while koalanoob and Zander are listed as “player 6” and “player 7” which suggest that they are substitutes.
On paper, the roster appears highly competitive, combining proven talent, international experience, and several of the most recognizable names in the scene. Unsurprisingly, much of the spotlight will be focused on TenZ, who could be making his final appearance at a major competitive event. However, Canada will be hoping that the strength of the entire lineup, not just its star names, can propel the nation into contention when the Esports Nations Cup begins later this year.
