Just days after TSM was knocked out of the VALORANT Championship Tour Stage 3 Challengers 1 Open Qualifier, the organization is looking to make changes, sources told Upcomer and journalist Ryan Friend July 5.
The organization is looking to potentially replace Taylor “drone” Johnson, multiple sources told Upcomer.
TSM have contacted multiple organizations in the region to recruit one player for their roster, one source said. TSM have shortlisted several players, but the replacement is yet to be finalized at the time of publication.
The team has been linked to Built by Gamers player Tristan “Critical” Trinacty, according to one source. Critical did not participate with his team during the recent VCT Stage 3 Challengers 1 Open Qualifier. He was replaced by former Overwatch League player Ashley “Trill” Powell during the tournament.
The changes will reportedly take place before the next qualifier, which is set to begin in a few weeks. TSM will look to qualify for Challengers 2 through the Open Qualifier on July 22. If TSM secure qualification and finish in the top four, they will reach the Challengers Playoffs, which is set to begin on Aug. 11.
A disappointing start to the season
The changes follow TSM’s disappointing finish during the VCT Stage 3 Challengers 1 Open Qualifier. The North American team failed to qualify for the event following a defeat to Noble in the round of 32. Noble would later be taken down by 100 Thieves in the next round.
TSM’s VALORANT team has struggled this year following the introduction of the VCT. The team finished in the top six of the VCT Stage 2 Challengers 2, which concluded in April. They went on to lose to Immortals in the first round of the upper bracket and were then defeated by Andbox in the second round of the lower bracket to get knocked out of the tournament.
If TSM removes drone the team would temporarily field the following roster:
– James “hazed” Cobb
– Matthew “WARDELL” Bowman Yu
– Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik
– Sean “bang” Bezerra
– Chet Singh (coach)
