samed promoted to CGN Esports for Challengers DACH 2026

Samed "samed" Topbas has joined CGN Esports for the upcoming 2026 VALORANT season. The Austrian player has made a name for himself over the past two years on the DACH circuit, notably securing a 5th-place finish in DACH Evolution Split 1 2024.

In 2025, he continued his rise by competing in VCT 2025 DACH Split 1 with TeamOrangeGaming, then in VCL 2025 NORTH//EAST Split 3 under the Wylde banner, before being picked up by FOKUS. Initially integrated as a substitute, he played VCT 2025 EMEA Ascension in Berlin, where he experienced the highest level of tier-two competition in Europe.

Alongside this trajectory, samed also took part in the CGN Scouting Grounds powered by MediaMarkt, an initiative launched by the German organisation to identify tomorrow’s talents and integrate them into the DACH ecosystem. The program brought together several promising profiles, including Ryad "Jamelinho" Bentot, Charlie "Chaza" Phillips, Viktor "shinnok" Zsombor Maglóczki, and Patryk "NINJA" Koczyba across multiple evaluation phases.

Samed distinguished himself through his consistency and visible development, quickly catching the eye of the coaching staff. Combined with his recent experience at EMEA Ascension, this developmental profile would make him the final piece of the puzzle: the fifth player set to complete a roster now presented as a full DACH core.

On the CGN Esports side, the 2026 project is already largely mapped out: as previously reported by Sheep Esports, CGN has extended Vincent "Vince" Kranz and Berkant "Wolfen" Joshkun until the end of 2027, with Vince as in-game leader and Wolfen as captain, before locking in the signings of Blendi "KovaQ" Kovaci and Pontus "Zyppan" Eek from VCT EMEA.

The addition of a young talent like samed, already exposed to DACH, NORTH//EAST and Ascension circuits, would round out this core by providing an extra option with significant room for growth. With this final move, CGN Esports would head into the 2026 season with a five built around a clearly defined DACH core, designed to turn their consistent regional performances in 2025 into even more impactful results on the EMEA stage.