EG C0M: "I want a legacy in this game, but I also want my teammates to feel what I felt in 2023”

After its first match of 2026, C0M looks back on the defeat against Envy, how the roster was built, and more topics

Evil Geniuses announce the addition of C0M - Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

“There were teams interested in me as an in-game leader, but I wanted to work with Potter again”

Following Evil Geniuses' opening match against ENVY at the VALORANT Champions Tour Americas Kickoff, Cobin "C0M" Lee took a moment to speak with Sheep Esports about the team's first official showing of the 2026 season. EG’s in-game leader breaks down what went wrong, what is already showing promise, why the team’s goals remain unchanged despite the defeat, and more topics.

How do you feel after Evil Geniuses’ first match of 2026 in VCT Americas against Envy?

Corbin “C0M” Lee: "I felt overall good, but there are still a lot of things we need to clean up. Today we lost four anti-ecos, which wasn’t acceptable. At the end of the day, we felt like we were the better team and, in a way, we lost to ourselves. It came down to swing rounds and pushing through. I’m happy the guys fought until the end, but of course I wanted to win.

From the start, you looked relaxed on camera, with no visible stress. Where does that early-game confidence come from?

C0M: It’s a mix of everything. Everyone is vibing, and the game plans were good to start the series. We still have a lot to review and tighten up to make sure everything comes together. Overall, aside from losing, I think we’re in a good place.

As an IGL, how do you keep everyone focused when things get messy, like on Bind, where it stayed close until the end?

C0M: I’ve been through it before. I’ve lost a lot in my career and experienced every emotion, so slow starts or things going wrong happen. What matters is how you adapt and move forward. As a leader, I need to be the stable point for the team, no matter what happens, and keep everyone confident in themselves and in what we’re doing. I’ll always be that consistent pillar.

Let’s talk about the EG 2026 roster. How did this lineup come together, and when did you feel it could work?

C0M: It came together through a lot of trials. In the offseason, I was trialing with different teams because I wanted to IGL and expand my role. With this roster, you can see the potential: our duelist can have huge pop-off moments, Abyss showed that today. dgzin (Douglas Silva) is a consistent fragger. Okeanos (Antony Nguyen) is strong, and bao (Bao Nguyen) has his moments, too. We work well together. Right now we’re adding layers, and eventually those layers will be refined.

Christine “Potter” Chi said on the broadcast that EG tried different profiles, including players from EMEA. Was there a moment where the roster almost ended up different?

C0M: Maybe, but when we tried dgzin, we felt it immediately; he was the guy. Coming into the season, I wanted someone who could make a difference, have pop-off moments, play free, and win rounds. If he’s confident, I’ll make sure the macro is good, and everything falls into place. That’s the trust I have in myself and in him.

dgzin the young duelist recruited by EG - Credit: Valorant Esports/Riot Games

On a personal level, what pushed you to come back to EG as the IGL instead of taking a different path?

C0M: There were teams interested in me as an in-game leader, but I wanted to work with Potter again. She pushes me to improve in different ways. Over the last two years, I’ve learned a lot, and I can also push others to be better. Early on, I told her I enjoyed being coached by her, and I wanted to grow as an IGL here rather than going somewhere completely new. I felt it was the best opportunity to win now instead of going into a longer rebuilding route.

What’s the biggest difference between the 2023 version of C0M and the C0M who’s back at EG now?

C0M: I’m more of a leader. In 2023, toward the end, I started calming things down and became more refined. Now I’m constantly there for my teammates, teaching, leading in-game, and being someone they can rely on. I want a legacy in this game, but I also want my teammates to feel what I felt in 2023. It’s bigger than me. I want them to feel success and be happy too. To go far in esports, you need a balance of being selfish and selfless, giving up certain things so everyone can succeed.

Okeanos surprised a lot of people last year with you. Do you think playing with him before helped build synergy faster, especially in tough moments like Bind, from 0–6 to 5–7?

C0M: Yes, definitely. There’s a lot of trust between Okeanos and me. We didn’t want to go down 6–0, but after that, we started stringing rounds and brought it back to where it should’ve been. We know each other well. He knows I’ll be the supporting piece that helps others shine; that’s where I want to be. It made the transition easier.

Was it your choice to bring him to EG?

C0M: I wanted him on the team, and Potter wanted him too. She believed that if we want to win a championship, we need someone like Okeanos.

With the new meta, Breeze returning, and a new pistol being added, what do you think about the direction the game is heading?

C0M: I think it’s good, these changes are stepping stones for what the game will become later in the year. It will keep evolving and improve overall. New Breeze is much better than old Breeze because the old version lacked map control. This one has more controllable space you can manipulate, and that’s healthier for the game.

Looking ahead, what are EG’s ambitions this year? What would make 2026 a successful season for EG and for you?

C0M: The biggest goal is winning Champs. My goals haven’t changed, even with a new team. I’m here to win, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get there. Right now, it’s about finding our footing, how we want to play in matches, how we react as a team, and working through the growing pains. Then the goal is to qualify for internationals. It’s three strikes, and we’re one strike down, but this is how you improve."