Leviatan and Demon1 part ways after short-lived stint

Earlier today, Leviatán announced on their X account that Max "Demon1" Mazanov would be leaving the roster after spending the last three months relegated to the bench. The move concludes a turbulent partnership that began with high hopes but was ultimately derailed by disappointing results and unresolved issues with role fit and team composition.

Demon1's benching dates back to May 2025, following Leviatan’s struggles at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Americas Stage 1, where the team finished in 9th-10th place, an outcome far below their ambitions. Despite boasting some world-class talent, the roster failed to gel, and Leviatan’s management began making decisive moves to reset the team for the next stage of competition.

A Pattern Repeats: Third Exit in Two Years

This marks the third time in just two years that a team has parted ways with the 2023 Champions MVP. After Evil Geniuses’ historic championship run in 2023, which established Demon1 as one of VALORANT’s brightest stars, the original EG roster dissolved. NRG signed Demon1 for the 2024 season, but after another disappointing 9th-10th finish at VCT 2024 - Americas Stage 1, he found himself benched and later released in October 2024. Leviatan seized the chance to sign the high-profile duelist, but the partnership failed to produce the intended resurgence.

From MVP to Uncertain Future

Since leaving Evil Geniuses, Demon1 has struggled to recapture his 2023 form, with several factors contributing to his decline. Chief among them is his unusual agent pool and playstyle. Although historically successful on agents like Jett, Chamber, Neon, Astra, and Brimstone, Demon1’s inability to play entry despite being listed on duelist agents created persistent problems for team synergy.

On teams that needed their duelist to be a frontline entry, Demon1 often played more like a secondary trader, a style that suited Evil Geniuses’ unique setup, but has been harder to integrate elsewhere without a player like Alexander "jawgemo" Mor to fill in the voids left behind by Demon1.

What’s Next for Demon1?

Despite his struggles, Demon1’s reputation as a world champion and former MVP means he could still land on a Tier-1 team. However, many fans believe that a stint in Tier-2 might be better for him. There, free of the relentless pressure of Tier-1, he could focus on rebuilding his agent pool, regaining confidence, and rediscovering his best form.

Meanwhile other fans believe that with the right mindset, Demon1 could transition roles if he commits to the work, especially after two challenging and humbling years in competitive VALORANT.

While parting ways with Leviatan is another twist in Demon1’s journey, it presents an opportunity for him to reset and reimagine his place in the competitive VALORANT scene. If he can adapt and expand his skillset, a return to the top is not out of reach for one of the game’s most memorable talents.

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Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games