GIANTX sign neT as new IGL ahead of VCT EMEA 2026 Stage 2

GIANTX have officially confirmed the signing of Michael "neT" Bernet, bringing the American across the Atlantic to take over in-game leader duties. He steps into the role vacated by Kirill "Cloud" Nehozhin, who departed for Fnatic last month.

A Well-Traveled NA Career

neT's competitive VALORANT journey began in North America back in 2021, with early stints on Starless White and Elysium before he landed on The Guard, where he first caught everyone’s attention. His breakout continued when The Guard's roster was acquired by G2 Esports following their historic VCT 2023 - Challengers Ascension: AMERICAS title. From there, neT moved to tier-2 side M80, reaching the VCT 2024 - Ascension: AMERICAS final but falling short in the runner-up spot, missing out on a second Americas promotion.

Cloud9 came calling for the 2025 season, and despite a shaky start, the team salvaged their campaign with a 4th-place finish at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Americas Stage 2. 2026 brought yet another move, as neT joined NRG Academy for another tier-2 run before a brief spell with FlyQuest, setting the stage for his move to GIANTX. This marks only his second run in tier-1 VALORANT since his Cloud9 stint.

GIANTX Look to Rebuild

The signing comes amid a turbulent year for GIANTX. Poor showings at VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Kickoff and VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 1 prompted roster changes, including Cloud's exit and the recent departure of Grzegorz "GRUBINHO" Ryczko. The team remains a player short, though a replacement is expected to be announced soon as VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 - EMEA Stage 2 draws closer.

GIANTX have made their ambitions clear on social media: a return to Champions is the goal for Stage 2. Having failed to qualify for a single international event in 2026 despite tasting LAN action at Champions 2025, the pressure is mounting. With neT now leading the charge, GIANTX will hope his tier-2 pedigree and IGL instincts can translate into the results needed to book their ticket back to the world stage.

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Featured Image Source: GIANTX