It’s been a whirlwind week for North American esports, with both the professional and collegiate scenes buzzing from high-profile roster moves and playoff pushes. From the dramatic return of a fan-favorite in professional VALORANT to the rise of collegiate hopefuls at Valparaiso University, the esports calendar is jam-packed with stories of redemption, rivalry, and raw ambition.
On November 13, 2025, Cloud9 electrified the VALORANT community by announcing the return of Jordan "Zellsis" Montemurro to their roster—this time as in-game leader (IGL). Zellsis, a familiar name to Cloud9 fans, previously donned the blue and white in 2022 before embarking on a two-year stint with Sentinels, where he reached the international pinnacle of the game. His journey back is more than just a homecoming; it’s a fresh chapter in a storied career that’s seen both glory and adversity.
For Zellsis, the transition back to Cloud9 isn’t just about changing jerseys. "I think the biggest change is that I’m a lot more involved in the early-round and team planning now. Before, I was more of a mid-round player. I’d share ideas when I had them or when the team needed them. Now, I need to be more present from the start," he explained in a recent interview with esports.gg. This new role demands not only tactical acumen but also the ability to balance his natural instincts with structured leadership. "Immi [Cloud9 head coach Ian Harding] even mentioned that I still tend to think like a mid-rounder. I kind of forgot what it’s like to just focus on the early setup. So now I handle most of the freeze-time calls and step in mid-round when I need to. That’s been the biggest adjustment for me so far."
Zellsis’ return comes after a bittersweet period with Sentinels. While 2024 saw him lift the VALORANT Masters Madrid trophy and claim his first VCT Americas title, the following year was less forgiving. Sentinels managed second or third place in three domestic tournaments in 2025 but faltered on the international stage, prompting a shakeup as the off-season transfer window opened. The move back to Cloud9, however, isn’t just about seeking greener pastures. It’s about growth—both personal and professional.
His time with Sentinels also exposed him to the double-edged sword of esports fandom. "The fan base for Sentinels is very loving, but also very toxic. They just want the best for the organization and the players," Zellsis remarked. The sheer intensity of the Sentinels fanbase brought both adoration and, at times, a torrent of negativity—even extending to his family. "For me, it’s tough, and kind of counterintuitive in esports, because you usually want to be as public as possible. You want to be seen—that’s how you stay relevant. But with Sentinels being such a huge organization, I felt like I needed a bit of distance. I don’t want to say I wanted to separate myself from Sentinels, because I still love the org and the fanbase. They completely changed my life. I just needed to take a break, a little vacation from all of it. Hate is always going to exist in esports. It’s just part of the scene. It feels like it’s almost 'cool' to hate in this generation, which I don’t really get, but it is what it is. So for me, it was more about stepping back from the Sentinels juggernaut for a bit and getting some space."
Looking ahead, Zellsis is determined to make his mark as Cloud9’s IGL. "I think for me it’s going to be a lot of reps. A lot of trial and error. I’m the kind of player who likes to see how things play out before making changes. I’m not in a rush. I want to test things first, see how they work, and then adjust if needed," he shared. Finding the right balance between freeze-time planning and mid-round calls is his top priority. "My teammates are very smart and can handle mid-round calls themselves, so I just need to focus on freeze-time planning and reading the game after that. I don’t need to rush anything. A lot of what I’ll be working on in the foreseeable future is finding that balance and letting my team take over when appropriate."
Cloud9’s recent showing at the SEN City tournament highlighted areas for improvement. "Our pistols are a big issue because I think we lost almost all of them. I believe we only won one pistol round in the entire tournament. On top of that, we often gave up the bonus rounds whenever we lost pistol, which adds up to five rounds we’re just handing to the other team," Zellsis admitted. Despite these setbacks, his confidence in the roster is unwavering. "I can confidently say that this roster will, at a minimum, qualify for events. That’s already a great start. I also believe we have the potential to win tournaments, but at the very least, we’ll be securing spots in the major competitions."
Outside of the game, Zellsis is a self-proclaimed superfan of League of Legends icon Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. He stayed up late to watch T1’s dramatic victory over KT Rolster at Worlds 2025, only to doze off before the comeback. "The worst part was that the game was really late. I stayed up watching until KT Rolster was up 2-1, and I thought, 'This is over.' I didn’t trust my goat at all. So I fell asleep, and then I woke up to see that T1 had won. After that, I even changed my profile picture on X, and now everyone can see I’m a Faker fan. I’ve met a lot of esports pros in my life, but he’s the only one who actually made me feel nervous," Zellsis confessed.
Meanwhile, on the collegiate front, Valparaiso University’s Esports program wrapped up their National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) regular season with a mix of triumph and optimism for the future. The Rocket League team, led by Coach Thomas Hohnholt, finished with a flawless 6-0 record, earning the #1 seed for the playoffs where they will face Augusta University in a #1 vs #8 matchup. Senior captain Soren Burkholder, along with Joshua Cronin and freshman Logan Walliker, are eager to extend their winning streak deep into the postseason.
Valpo’s Varsity Overwatch team also impressed, posting a 5-1 record and qualifying for the playoffs, set to begin against Saginaw Valley State University. The Academy Overwatch squad finished 3-4, just missing the cut for postseason play. The League of Legends team fought valiantly throughout the season, finishing 3-3 but falling short of playoff qualification. "We are proud of the way this team fought throughout the season against some of the best teams in the country," said Graduate Assistant of Esports, George Gillman, who also expressed gratitude to graduating players Justin Blanco and Eamonn O’Connell for their dedication.
The Super Smash Bros. team, under Gillman’s guidance, ended with a 1-6 record. While the results weren’t what they hoped for, the focus is now on growth and development for the spring. "We look forward to seeing this team grow and improve in the off-season. While the record was not what we thought it would be, the experience that our newcomers got this fall will be very impactful as we look ahead to the spring season," Gillman noted. Fans are encouraged to catch all the action live on Twitch at twitch.tv/valpoesports.
As the competitive season heats up, both Cloud9 and Valparaiso University are bracing for the next wave of challenges. Whether it’s a professional star returning to his roots or collegiate teams chasing postseason dreams, the energy and anticipation in the esports arena are palpable. Zellsis perhaps summed it up best: "I just want to say to all my fans, to all Sentinels fans, and to every other fan out there: please come support Cloud9. We’re humble kings this year. I love all of you. Please, come cheer us on!"
