G2 Esports has split with in-game leader Jacob ‘valyn’ Batio as it rebuilds for the 2027-28 partnership cycle. The exit reshapes two partner rosters, with Fnatic in EMEA still settling who will lead its new lineup.
G2 Esports has broken up the old The Guard core. Jacob ‘valyn’ Batio’s spell at the club began on September 22, 2023. That day G2 took over The Guard’s lineup of neT, valyn, trent and JonahP, with JoshRT joining as coach. The 2023 Ascension-winning roster moved because The Guard did not sign the Team Partnership Agreement.
The group went on to rule VCT Americas. An international trophy stayed out of reach. The closest it came was Masters Bangkok 2025, where G2 lost the final to T1 by 2-3. G2 had entered Champions Shanghai as the fourth seed and still reached the top four.
valyn also collected individual honors. He was VCT Americas Controller of the Year in two straight seasons and IGL of the Year in 2024. He was Grand Finals MVP of Stage 2 in 2025. In a farewell video, he said his only regret was that the group never reached “the highest of highs” together.
A collapsed LYON deal opened the road to EMEA
valyn’s next move first pointed to Mexico. Sheep Esports had reported a verbal agreement with LYON that hinged on the organization earning a VCT Americas partner slot. With that condition unmet, valyn was free to sign elsewhere. LYON has since pulled out of VALORANT esports entirely.
In EMEA, Fnatic announced on October 18 that it would stay a VCT partner, even after a difficult 2026 season. Its rebuild reportedly keeps kaajak and Cloud and adds Gentle Mates duelist marteen. Longtime captain Boaster has said he is looking at his options for 2027.
Fnatic has not said who would take on which role. Cloud, who did not lead the team in 2026, is expected to leave in-game leading to valyn, Insider Gaming reported. That would put an Americas title-winning shotcaller at the center of an EMEA rebuild.
G2 hands the calls to kiNgg for the new cycle
G2 is reshaping its own lineup around a new leader. Sato is set to replace valyn, and kiNgg will take over shotcalling. kiNgg inherits those in-game leading duties from babybay. babybay is looking at options in VCT China.
The changes mean G2 starts the next cycle without the player who called its Americas run. Fnatic, if the deal goes through, gains a proven leader for a roster still sorting out its roles.
Both clubs have secured their place for that cycle. Riot’s partner list for 2027-28 includes G2 Esports among the eight VCT Americas teams and Fnatic among the eight VCT EMEA teams.
Sources
