ENVY Rossy: “One day we were playing with inspire, and the next we weren’t. It happened really fast, within 12 hours” – VCT Americas Kickoff

After ENVY’s loss to Evil Geniuses in VCT Americas Kickoff, Hotspawn sat down with Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo to break down the series, the team’s sudden roster changes, the challenges of playing in North America, and the lessons he’s learned throughout his career. From overtime fatigue to blunt honesty about team culture, Rossy didn’t hold back.

Hotspawn: I know that it was a bit of a tough loss today, but I want to start off on a more positive note here. So even though you were down in that first game, you guys were able to keep that mental to make that comeback, bring it to overtime, and, of course, your amazing ace.

What were you feeling during that?”

Rossy: “I don’t know. I was like, “Damn, I’m getting destroyed right now.” But I mean, I didn’t feel too much pressure on the first map. Yeah, we were losing, but we haven’t scrimmed that map ever. We just made the change with Max (Demon1), so we never scrimmed the map at all. And I never played Killjoy before, so I literally came into the match and just did whatever. I didn’t even know what I was doing.

“I mean, it was cool to get the ace, I guess, but I wasn’t really hyped. I don’t know if the camera got it, but I was like, “Alright, next round,” because we needed to win. And I was just so tired of overtime. Every game is so hard. I’m like, please, why can’t we just have a game like 13–4 or 13–5?”

ROSSY ACES TO KEEP OVERTIME ALIVE!!! pic.twitter.com/HhkIN3wN4A

— VALORANT Esports NA (@valesportsna) February 6, 2026

Hotspawn: You spent that season playing in T1, and then you moved back to NA.

So how has that been, shifting regions, playing in Pacific, then coming back to NA?

Rossy: “I’m so blessed to have had that T1 opportunity. It was the best year of my life. I wish I could go back. I would never want to play NA again, truthfully.

“Let me choose my words carefully here. People treat the game like it’s their life in Korea and in Asia. Their life is on the line every match, and they take it that seriously. Here, it’s not taken that seriously, and I don’t appreciate that. But I’ve learned, as you can see, I’m always smiling now. I’m being a nice guy.

“People think I kicked inspire or that I’m some master manipulator, but I’m just a normal guy. I don’t really say much anymore. I just close my mouth, smile, and do what’s best for the team. That’s my motto now.”

“I’ve adapted. I’m no longer myself. I just say what people want to hear and listen. That’s it.”

Demon1’s Arrival and a Whirlwind Roster Change

Hotspawn: Since you brought it up, I’m gonna ask:

How did Demon1 end up joining the team?

Rossy: “It kind of just happened. One day we were playing with Hunter (inspire), and the next day we were not. That’s all I can really say. It happened really fast, within like 12 hours, max. There’s no reason for me to say bad things about someone or talk about private stuff. It was related to the team, and it just happened fast.”

Hotspawn: It seems like a very Chamber-heavy meta right now, especially in NA.

So I wanted to ask about the reasoning behind putting Demon1 back on smokes.

Rossy: “We definitely want to put Max on Chamber. We just only had four scrims with him. We talked about it and decided to keep the comps the same for now, just to give him time. The goal was to beat EG, then play 100 Thieves, and then maybe switch things up after. But we didn’t get past the first step, but we were definitely going to consider Chamber.”

Hotspawn: What do you think was the biggest difference between the first time you played EG and today?

Rossy: “They had heavy anti-strat. So much anti-strat. I think they could have had a Silver 1 IGLing them today, wouldn’t have mattered because they just have so much anti-strat on us. They had really good preparation, so I’ll definitely give them that. That was the biggest difference. They also had some really good performances. Well played by them.”

Hotspawn: If there’s one thing you’ve learned from each of your teams, what would it be?

Rossy: “T1: I learned there’s a place I can be myself and people appreciate it. C9: I learned it’s deeper than just playing the game. Leviatán: I learned absolutely nothing. ENVY: I learned I’m glad I wasn’t myself on the team.”

He added:
“People say they want criticism and improvement, but when you actually do it, they don’t like it. So I stopped. I just focus on myself. That’s how you keep a job in America.”

Hotspawn: ENVY has undergone a few changes in recent months, Demon1 being the latest.

How are you able to build team chemistry?

Rossy: “You have to hang out outside the game. Team dinners, honest conversations, that’s where the real work happens. Champions don’t happen by mistake. Sometimes teams hate each other, but they respect each other in-game. You never hear that Champs winners were just best friends.”

Hotspawn: What do you think about the current meta?

Rossy: “I think it’s good for us. As long as Yoru is strong, we’ll be fine. When Yoru’s not strong, may God help us.”

Hotspawn: What are the most important things to fix ahead of Stage 1?

Rossy: “S***, everything. We’re basically a brand-new team. So much has changed in two months. I don’t even think I was on the team in December. Everything.”