100 Thieves bench Boostio, sign Kess for VCT Americas 2025 Stage 2

In a completely unexpected move, 100 Thieves have officially announced on X that in-game leader Kelden "Boostio" Pupello has been benched ahead of VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Americas Stage 2.

Head coach Tony "Zikz" Gray addressed the difficult decision, stating:

“Love Boostio to death and wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had with him for anything… making this change an incredibly hard decision. Ultimately though, in any competition – results and performance are the factors that matter the most when expectations are not met, leading to changes.”

Boostio, who joined 100T after his world championship-winning run at VCT 2023 - Champions with Evil Geniuses, was seen as a promising leader to lift 100 Thieves to new heights. Yet despite flashes of brilliance - including a first-place finish at VCT 2024 - Americas Stage 1 - recent performances have not met expectations. After a disappointing 2025 season in VCT Americas and an early exit from the EWC VALORANT - Esports World Cup 2025 group stage, 100 Thieves found themselves urgently needing to shake things up in hopes of qualifying for VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions.

Kess Joins: Fresh Blood From NA Challengers

To fill the gap left by Boostio, 100 Thieves have acquired Drew “Drew "Kess" Lee” Lee from North American Challengers squad QoR. Kess, active in the NA tier 2 scene since 2021 and known for his proficiency as an Initiator, has represented squads like Nightblood Gaming.

The move signals both high risk and high reward, as Kess will be thrust into top-tier competition with little time to acclimate before the team’s first match against NRG this weekend.

Role Overlap and Roster Questions

Kess’ addition introduces several questions for head coach Zikz. 100 Thieves already field Daniel "eeiu" Vucenovic as their primary Initiator, and now find themselves with two players specializing in similar roles. Meanwhile, Boostio’s departure leaves a gap in the Sentinel slot, a role not natively played by any of the current roster. With Matthew "Cryocells" Panganiban and Peter "Asuna" Mazuryk filling Duelist positions, Alexander "Zander" Dituri as Controller, and both Kess and eeiu favoring Initiators, some unorthodox role swaps may be on the cards.

This swap has also left 100 Thieves without an In-Game Leader. It is rumored that zander is the one who will take up the mantle. But what 100 Thieves can come up with will only be known tomorrow.

Looking Ahead

Zikz recognizes the difficult road ahead for 100 Thieves, admitting that while the decision to make a roster change so close to competition carries significant risk, the goal is to bring greater stability and increase their chances of qualifying for Champions. He emphasized that the team faces a tight timeline, but assured fans that they are committed to working tirelessly and giving their maximum effort to achieve their objectives.

With their VCT Americas Stage 2 opener against NRG looming, all eyes are on how quickly the new roster can mesh, and whether Kess can deliver at the top level. Whatever transpires, 100 Thieves’ bold roster move has made this Stage 2 a must-watch for their fans.

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Featured Image Source: Tina Jo/Riot Games