Cloud9 has ended pro Super Smash Bros. player Joseph ‘mang0�Marquez’s 11-year contract with them. This follows the gamer’s behaviour at the Beerio Kart event held on Saturday, June 21.

The event, hosted by Ludwig ‘Ludwig�Ahgren, was a fun twist on the classic Mario Kart gameplay with alcohol. During the stream, mang0 appeared visibly drunk and was seen making inappropriate contact towards streamers, including women.

The backlash was swift. Fans and fellow creators, like Connor ‘ConnorEatsPantsâ€?and  Rachell Marie ‘Valkyraeâ€?Hofstetter, called out his actions as harassment. Following this, Ludwig confirmed that mang0 is now banned from future Mogul Moves events.

Cloud9 released a short statement which confirms they had cut ties with mang0 after an internal review. Twitch also placed a temporary ban on his channel just days after the stream.

In response, mang0 issued a public apology on social media. He admitted his fault and shared plans to step back from events to address his drinking habits. This incident has sparked wider talks about alcohol use and streamer conduct at live gaming events.

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Most teams rolled out simple strategies in the early days of professional VALORANT. They were more reliant on skill rather than having set strategies. It was a bare-bones approach early on, which paled in comparison to the uber-tactical Counter-Strike. Since many players moved over from that esports circuit, some players stood out as strategists. 

The tactical masterminds often went into in-game leader roles (IGL), and one of them was American player Anthony ‘vanity�Malaspina. He stood out for Cloud9 for three years, with some stints for Version1 and Shopify Rebellion. After a great stint as arguably the North American region’s best IGL, he has decided to step away from esports.

Vanity is stepping away from esports entirely

After last competing for Cloud9’s VALORANT team in August 2024, vanity was rumoured to return to Counter-Strike. That did not pan out for him, which has led to his decision to step away from esports.

He is a big-time miss for esports as he was a brilliant tactical mind. Even in Counter-Strike, he was a respected leader, as he knew how to set up his team to compete at the highest level. That improved in VALORANT because it was a game waiting for innovations.

While he is not stepping away from gaming, vanity has laid out a plan for himself for 2025. He took to X to announce his plans, stating, ‘I will be going back to school to finish my degree part-time & pursue streaming full-time for 6 months, if I don't enjoy it or it seems unsustainable after 6 months I will be going back to finish my degree full-time�

Vanity will be missed in the VALORANT space

As the VALORANT scene has progressed, in-game leaders have become an important part of the system. Any team that wants to succeed needs an IGL who can either be a brilliant tactician or a strong motivational figure. That has been the case for esports as a whole, no matter what game they play.

However, VALORANT is not the type of game that has the best IGLs, especially in the North American region. With fellow NA IGL standout Pujan ‘FNSâ€?Mehta hinting at retirement after the 2025 season, the region is starved of good IGLs running the game for their teams. 

It will be interesting to see how the NA region adjusts because they are falling behind other regions. They have the talent to keep up with the individual battles, but since VALORANT is a team-based game, every team will need a leader to guide the way. 

As other teams forge a path to success, NA’s best representation for leadership has decided to leave. No matter what one’s opinion is on vanity, he left a mark on the VALORANT scene.

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Cloud9 announced that it is leaving Counter-Strike 2 and is coming back into the Rainbow Six Siege esports scene. The North American team stated it has ‘no plans�to return to Counter-Strike 2 for now. Cloud9 has had a team in Counter-Strike since 2014.

Over nine years, they won many tournaments, including being the only North American team to take a Major title (ELEAGUE Boston 2018). The team’s decision to step back from Counter-Strike 2 was made public on February 14, 2025, along with the exit of Konstantin ‘groove�Pikiner and team manager Aleksandr ‘sweety10�Scherbakov.

Cloud9's last match in Counter-Strike 2 was at the Perfect World Shanghai Major in late 2024. They lost to Team Liquid, PaiN, and Complexity in the Opening Stage and did not make it to the playoffs. Even though Cloud9 has a long history in Counter-Strike, their last big win was in 2023 at Relog Media’s Brazy Party. 

Rejoining Rainbow Six

Cloud9’s announcement of its return to Rainbow Six on February 15, 2025, makes it one of 20 teams in Ubisoft’s partner program. Teams in this program will earn profit from sales of pro-team bundles in the Rainbow Six store. 

Cloud9 was one of two teams revealed at the Six Invitational 2025 to join this program with Brazilian team LOUD, joining as the 20th and last team for the 2025 season. The group has not yet shared its team lineup for the 2025 season. 

The last time they played in Rainbow Six was at the 2021 Six Invitational, where they finished in the top sixteen. Cloud9's entry into Rainbow Six Siege adds another key North American team to Ubisoft’s tactical game. They join other teams like FaZe Clan, M80, and Spacestation Gaming, with FaZe representing Brazil.

Aside from their decision to leave Counter-Strike and rejoin Rainbow Six, Cloud9’s League of Legends team also has a new name for 2025. In partnership with Kia, a popular automobile company, the group will compete as Cloud9 KIA throughout the League of the Americas (LTA) season.

What is Rainbow Six?

Rainbow Six is a popular video game series made by Ubisoft. It is based on the Tom Clancy book of the same name. This game is a first-person shooter (FPS) where teams made up of five players each work together to complete goals. 

The game focuses on strategy and teamwork, with players choosing from various operators, each with unique skills and gadgets. This makes each match different, as teams must adapt to their opponent's choices.

Esports events for Rainbow Six are held all over the globe. The main league is called the Rainbow Six Pro League, which features the best teams and players worldwide. 

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