Max “Demon1” Mazanov is back on the big stage in Valorant. He helped Cloud9 win two matches against Leviatán at the VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff event. The former world champion is stepping in for Francis “OXY” Hoang, who had to take time off for personal reasons.
Demon1 showed off his amazing shooting skills with his favorite character, Chamber. After the matches, he talked about his return to VCT Americas, the current state of the game, and more.
Q) You said on a Brazilian stream that you really wanted to compete and win this year. Do you feel like 2026 is your last chance to prove yourself, find a permanent team, and get back to the top?
Demon1: Every year is the same for me. I’m always motivated and want to win. Last chance? I don’t think about it that way. I believe I’m better than almost everyone in the league. I’m sure I’ll find a team soon. I hope someone picks me up, but no one has called me yet. Playing for Cloud9 as a substitute is a good opportunity.
Q) You had some strong words about not being picked by any team at the start of VCT 2026. But you’ve played with teams like Cloud9 and Dragon Ranger Gaming. Do you see these short-term jobs as good or bad? They let you play, but teams only bring you in as a substitute, not a full-time player.
Demon1: I don’t worry about being a substitute. Teams have their own systems, and most aren’t making changes. It’s sad I wasn’t picked up at the start of the year. I’m always motivated, and anytime I get to play, it’s a good thing. I never see it as negative. Any playing time is good time, and I always do my best.
Q) Could you tell us more about your time with Dragon Ranger Gaming? Chinese and Asian teams often approach esports differently than Western teams. How did the DRG players think about competing? Do you still talk to them?
Demon1: Off the game, they work very hard and are fun to be around. As for how they play, I had no idea what was happening. They just told me to do certain things, and that was it. I didn’t understand their strategy.
We don’t really keep in touch because they’re in China and the time difference is too big. But a couple of them have sent me messages asking how I’m doing.
Q) Did your short time with DRG make you think about playing in other regions, like EMEA or Pacific?
Demon1: If I had to, I’d play for any team, but I don’t want to move. I live here and my whole life is here, so I can’t really go somewhere else.
Q) What do you think about the current game and Chamber being a really strong character?
Demon1: You could always make Chamber work, but now he’s even better because the special abilities last longer, and there are fewer abilities in general. If you put the right player with the right character, it can work well.
Q) Do you think the changes to special abilities have been good for the game? It seems like it has made more characters playable.
Demon1: Yes, definitely. Riot is adding new characters with different abilities, not just smoke or bomb characters. They’re making unique characters, but reducing the special abilities helps so it’s not 90% abilities and 10% shooting. That’s better for the game.
Q) What do you think about Zellsis’ leadership style?
Demon1: It’s pretty good because it’s simple and not too complicated. He reads the game well and knows what’s happening in each round. He makes the right adjustments. Honestly, his calling has been really good, especially in practice matches.
We’ve been making the right calls all the time, and the ideas are good. It’s just small mistakes like a player showing themselves too much, or bad timing on attacks, but those are things you can’t control. Overall, he definitely knows what he’s doing.
