BOOM Esports confirm 2026 lineup with d3ffo and Nakya

BOOM Esports have officially confirmed their VALORANT roster for the 2026 season, locking in a lineup that keeps much of the former VCT Pacific core together as the organization shifts its focus to the Challengers circuit. The announcement, shared via BOOM’s social media, also sets an ambitious tone for the year ahead: a return to the biggest stage in the game.

BOOM Esports confirm 2026 lineup

The Indonesian org will field Hildegard "Shiro" Arnaldo Herikusuma, Jonathan "naTz" Adiputra, and Sheldon "NcSlasher" Andersen Chandra as the foundation of their 2026 project, maintaining continuity from their previous VCT Pacific roster. With two openings created in the offseason, BOOM have moved quickly to finalize replacements ahead of their first official match of the year.

Those vacant slots emerged after Rizkie "BerserX" Adla Kusuma departed to Team Secret, while Dastan "dos9" Zhumagali opted for a regional change, heading to EMEA to join Karmine Corp. BOOM’s solution is a mix of international and regional, bringing in Nikita "d3ffo" Sudakov and Alehandro "Nakya" Fabian Simanjorang to complete the five-man unit.

d3ffo returns in BOOM colors

Long-time followers of VALORANT Esports will recognize d3ffo as a former part of Gambit’s iconic 2021 roster, giving BOOM a player with proven experience at the highest level and actual trophies on his resume. While his career has largely been centered in EMEA, he recently stepped outside the region to play for China’s Octagonal Disposition Gaming.

This isn’t his first stint with the organization, either. d3ffo already featured for BOOM Esports at the Partner Series - APAC Predator League 2026 - Main Event, where the team put together a strong run and finished in second place, offering an early look at how he fits into the squad’s system.

Nakya’s loan turns into a permanent move

The second addition is Indonesian player Nakya, previously on loan from NAOS Esports. Unlike d3ffo, Nakya has been with the group for longer, having played with BOOM since November 2025 under that loan arrangement.

With the 2026 roster now confirmed, it appears that deal has been fully finalized, with Nakya officially jumping ship to BOOM permanently; another step toward stability as the team enters a crucial Challengers campaign.

“Make it to Champions” is the target

In BOOM’s X video announcement, CEO Gary “natshuba” Ongko laid out the objective: make it to Champions. With the updated competitive ecosystem and the Path to Champions format in play, Tier-2 teams like BOOM will be aiming to turn domestic success into Champions 2026 qualification.

For Pacific, four Champions slots are reserved, including one allocated to Southeast Asia—meaning BOOM will be battling through a crowded field to claim that path. As Ongko put it:

“We’ve done it before, there’s no reason we can’t do it again.”

BOOM’s first official match of 2026 is only three days away, with the team set to open their campaign at VCL 2026 - Southeast Asia: Split 1 - Indonesia Regional.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: BOOM Esports