Sources - VALORANT: SID set to join IGZIST in Challengers Japan

According to sources close to Sheep Esports, Japanese organization IGZIST have reached a verbal agreement with Kim "SID" Min-seung ahead of the 2026 Challengers Japan season. The South Korean Duelist, who spent this year competing with FEARX in Challengers Korea, is set to switch regions and will likely make his debut with his new team at the APAC Predator League 2026, set to begin on January 9.

SID already has some experience in Japan’s competitive scene. Between 2023 and 2024, he played for BLUE BEES, a team that made several attempts to qualify for the Challengers League through open tournaments, though without success. In mid-2024, he joined a more stable project with Nongshim RedForce, helping the team secure second place in Split 2 before winning Split 3. Following the organization’s promotion to VCT through the acquisition of Sin Prinsa, who had won VALORANT Ascension Pacific, Nongshim transferred its roster to FEARX, which continued its domination in the Korean circuit.

FEARX went on to win Split 1 and Split 2 in convincing fashion, but lost some momentum toward the end of the year, finishing third in Split 3 behind SLT and T1 Academy. That slowdown carried over into the Road to Ascension tournament, which featured the top Korean teams. Entering directly into the winner bracket, FEARX suffered a 0-2 loss to SLT before defeating ONSIDE Gaming 3-1 in the lower-bracket final to earn a rematch. Despite taking the first map and leading 1-0, FEARX ultimately fell 3-1, allowing SLT to qualify for Ascension Pacific.

The South Korean player has mainly played Yoru, Raze, and Jett this season, reaching the top 5 in several statistics, including ACS (Average Combat Score) and K:D (Kill Death Ratio), making him an interesting player for any club.

For 2026, SID is embracing a new challenge with IGZIST, an organization that struggled to find success this year compared to FEARX. Finishing 9th-12th in Split 1, IGZIST had to go through the Advance Stage to fight for a Split 2 slot but fell short under Challengers Japan’s unique structure. The team was later relegated to Premier mode and failed to requalify for Split 3. Their only bright spot came during the Japanese qualifier for the APAC Predator League, where they took first place and secured the region’s sole qualification spot.

For more roster changes, check out our Transfers Hub and Offseason Live Tracker.