21.10.26 - 22:0921.10.2026 - 22:09·5m5 minutos de leitura·
Por Rabia Sayal
"We need to take the crown from Team Liquid": SRG alexis ahead of Game Changers Championship
Ahead of VALORANT Game Changers Championship 2026, players from participating teams attended the pre-event press conference to talk about their journeys, challenges heading into the event, team's confidence, and more.
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VALORANT Game Changers Championship will return to São Paulo on October 22, putting 10 of the strongest teams from four regions against each other to compete for the ultimate trophy. The opening matches of the 2026 edition will see MIBR GC take on FENNEL GC, followed by SK Nebula facing Nova Esports GC. Ahead of the event, players from the qualified teams attended a pre-event press conference to answer questions from the media. Check out the highlights below.
Questions for Iman "Nami" Nagaaoui
Gentle Mates entered Game Changers this year and defeated some of the strongest teams to win Stage 1, finishing second in both Stages 2 and 3. How much of a confidence boost has that been for the team, especially knowing your first match will be against defending champions Team Liquid Brazil?
Iman "Nami" Nagaaoui: I think our confidence would have been the same regardless of who we faced first. We've improved with every split and know what we need to do. We're completely confident and really excited to face Team Liquid in our opening match. We've learned from our mistakes, grown as a team, and addressed the areas that needed improvement. We're ready.
Your team made a roster change ahead of this tournament. How has the team adapted to the change, and how confident are you heading into the competition?
Nami: We changed one of our players before heading to Champions, but I think we had enough time to adapt. Everyone already knew safiaa (Safia Leghzal), and we felt comfortable with her from the first time she joined the team for a tryout. The change didn't affect us too much. Of course, playing a new role was a little different for her, but she handled it perfectly. I think we're more than ready, and the team is even stronger than before. Everything is going well.
Questions for Michaela "mimi" Lintrup and Jeong "miNt" Ye-rim
During the recent interview with Sheep Esports, you mentioned that Brazilian teams have consistently given G2 trouble. In fact, G2 was eliminated by a Brazilian team in each of the previous three editions of the championship. You'll face the winner of FENNEL vs MIBR in your opening match. Would you prefer to face MIBR and get a chance at revenge, or would FENNEL be the safer option?
Michaela "mimi" Lintrup: I don't necessarily prefer either team, but would playing against MIBR be more hype? Absolutely, they sent us home last year, and we're obviously not planning on making an early exit into the lower bracket this time. MIBR have always been a strong team, regardless of their roster, so facing them would definitely be more exciting. I don't think I've ever played against FENNEL, so facing a Pacific team would also be interesting. Ultimately, I have no preference, but I would love to get revenge on MIBR.
Gen.G introduced a new roster this year and had an incredible debut season together, winning Split 1, Split 2, and Pacific. Looking back at the team's performance, what do you think will be the biggest challenge as you make your international debut together?
Jeong "miNt" Ye-rim: Although we've performed really well domestically, we haven't been able to translate that success to the international stage until now. Despite starting the year with a fresh roster, most of our players have limited international experience, which will be one of our biggest challenges. Yamzzi (Park Su-jin) and I, in particular, have no prior international experience. Making a deep run in the tournament will be our biggest challenge, and that's what we'll focus on the most.
Questions for Alexis "alexis" Guarrasi
You've competed in several editions of the championship as a reigning champion. Does it feel different coming into this tournament without that title? Has it given the team a different mindset or an added drive to win?
Alexis "alexis" Guarrasi: We're a completely different team, and low-key, I think we've adopted the mentality that we're the underdogs and we need to take the crown from Team Liquid. We don't want to come into the tournament with any ego. Nicole (Nicole "Noia" Tierce) and I have won two championships, but this is a completely different team. We want to win together as a team.
When you competed in São Paulo in 2023, you won the championship and achieved the dream you'd been chasing. Three years later, you're back in Brazil looking to reclaim that title. How has your perspective changed since then?
alexis: It's a completely different experience this time because I'm now IGLing and leading the team. Back then, we were playing with mel (Melanie Capone), who unfortunately had COVID during the grand final and couldn't even be on stage with us, which sucked. This time, I want to win to prove that I'm a good IGL rather than to prove that I'm the best in the world, because I feel like I've already shown that twice. Playing in front of the Brazilian crowd is insane. Even when they're rooting against us, the energy in the room and the way they cheer for their team powers us up. The atmosphere is so hype, and I love playing in front of the Brazilian crowd.
