NRG keiko: “It wasn’t a toxic environment” at Team Liquid

NRG’s stunning VALORANT Champions win was quickly followed up by the stepping down of long-term player Sam “s0m” Oh. He’s now replaced by former Team Liquid player Georgio “keiko” Sanassy, who makes the move to the Americas for the first time. Ahead of NRG’s appearance at Red Bull Home Ground, Hotspawn was able to speak to keiko about the move, reflecting on his time in VCT EMEA and looking ahead to the new season.

Hotspawn: There were rumours this off season of you potentially going to a few different teams.

What was your approach this off season? Had you always hoped to go to NA?

Keiko: I think going to the off season, I knew that I wanted to look for different places to go. NA wasn’t a top thing for me, not the highest priority. I’m not gonna go to NA just to go to NA, of course, to any team. But I was interested in playing in NA from the very beginning. So I think that sort of helped my decision between which orgs I wanted to go to.

I narrowed it down to three orgs that I wanted to go to. And yeah, I ended up picking NRG out of the three.

Hotspawn: You’re in a unique position now then where 4/5 of the team are reigning World Champions.

Does that add any pressure? If NRG doesn’t keep up their success from Champs then there will have only been one roster change.

Keiko: Definitely just because they won, people are going to be thinking if we don’t have as much success, then they can obviously think that I would be the problem. But, you know, I joined them. They’re four world champions, they’re going to carry me hopefully. You know, not the other way around.

But yeah, hopefully everything goes well. I hope the fans aren’t too harsh because, you know, I think every team is a little bit different. But yeah

Hotspawn: Going into Champs, there were little to no expectations that NRG would win it. Now they’re world champions, and understandably people will expect them to be challenging for more global events.

How do you see the aims for 2026?

Keiko: When I was picking which orgs were the highest priority, ability to make internationals was my biggest thing. If a team can’t really make internationals, then for me there’s really no point for joining. And with the NRG, I can see us being able to make internationals with this team.

So, yeah, they won Champs. I think next year we’re gonna be able to qualify and go to the events. And I think that’s like the whole point of me picking NRG between the others.

No one could have seen this one coming

WELCOME @KEIKOFPS pic.twitter.com/DkkAqc28cU

— NRG (@NRGgg) November 13, 2025

Hotspawn: Team Liquid’s 2025 definitely had high points, but it felt like sometimes luck wasn’t on their side at global events, like nAts’ visa issues in Toronto and going out at Champs to DRX, who eventually finished third and had just come out with the Waylay/Yoru.

How do you view the season on the whole?

Keiko: I think last year was a big success. Just for Liquid and for everyone on the team, I think we defied a lot of expectations to make it to all three internationals.

And to be honest, we lost to Paper Rex in Toronto, who ended up winning. We lost a DRX [in Champs], came top three. And I think in Bangkok we lost to G2, who went to the finals. I wouldn’t say unlucky, but we didn’t get to have a run out of the groups.

We were group locked for the entire year at the internationals. We really wanted to make it out of groups, but we couldn’t. And every time, everyone who beat us at groups ended up coming top three; winning, second or third, you know. Those are three internationals for us.

But, you know, there’s not much to say. They [DRX] shifted the meta really good. I think we just weren’t ready for it. The Waylay/Yoru stuff, it was really good from them.

Hotspawn: You and nAts’ were very much the face of Team Liquid.

Now you’re heading to NRG, is there anything you’ve learnt from playing with him that you think you’ll take forward?

Keiko: I think the main thing is how disciplined he is. I think that’s the reason why he’s so consistent for the past five years, is that discipline and drive. I think that’s the most valuable thing that he’s taught me. Just like a very disciplined dude. Does everything as a schedule for everything he makes. Yeah, all that stuff.

Hotspawn: You’re leaving one legendary IGL for another with the now two-time Champs winner Ethan.

How do you feel about the prospect of playing with him?

Keiko: I’m excited, to be honest. Two time world champion. Come on. It’s gonna be interesting.

I think there’s a lot to learn from playing in a different region, from playing with different people and just not, you know, playing the same environment the entire time. I think there’s always room to grow, you know.

Hotspawn: There were rumours of a poor environment within Liquid around Champs, in part due to the heated comms clip, as well as trexx’s history with Team Vitality.

What are your thoughts on those rumours?

Keiko: I wouldn’t go too deep into it, obviously, but I think every team has conflicts and problems. I think it’s natural. If you want to win, you’re going to have conflict.

This mid-game thing, I made a big mistake in a very crucial round. I said that he was off the bomb for paTi. I thought he was off the bomb, but I messed up. Obviously he’s gonna be tilted about that. So it’s like, ‘What do you mean?’.

I think it’s natural for everyone. It wasn’t a toxic environment. It’s just that we wanted to win and that was it.