Team Liquid adds wayne to 2026 VALORANT roster alongside MiniBoo and purp0

Team Liquid has completed its 2026 VALORANT roster with the signing of Singaporean controller specialist Wayne “wayne” Chang Wei Jie, bringing in one of the Pacific region’s fastest-rising young talents ahead of the next EMEA league cycle. They also confirmed the signing of ex-Heretics player Dominykas “MiniBoo” Lukaševičius, as well as Semyon “purp0” Borchev. The three join returning Liquid staples Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin, and Kamil “kamo” Frąckowiak, forming a refreshed lineup for Berlin. Wayne’s arrival also comes in the wake of roster turbulence during the offseason, including the high-profile departure of Liquid’s star Duelist Keiko, who transferred to NRG.

Wayne’s Rise Through the Pacific and His 2025 Ascension Run

Wayne’s career trajectory across Asia has been marked by rapid improvement and high-pressure experience despite his age. After early development across regional teams such as X10 Esports, Kizuna Esports, and the international project Disguised, he broke through in 2025 with Motiv Esports. Motiv became the standout squad of Southeast Asia, finishing first in both of the region’s Challengers splits and securing qualification to that year’s Pacific Ascension event.

In the Ascension tournament, Motiv placed fourth overall—an impressive finish considering the depth of competition and the growing strength of the Pacific circuit. Throughout this period Wayne carried much of the team’s controller burden, managing mid-round utility and maintaining consistency in matches where Motiv often relied on structure rather than raw firepower.

His role specialization became one of his defining strengths. Most of his appearances were on Omen, which showcased his timing, smokes management, and discipline around space creation. He frequently filled in on Yoru when Motiv required more unpredictable mid-round pressure, and he produced several strong showings on Fade in maps that called for defensive information control. In rare circumstances he even stepped into Jett, mostly in compositions where Motiv needed an additional burst threat. This diverse agent pool made him a compelling pickup for an organization like Team Liquid that has regularly relied on layered tactical flexibility.

Team Liquid’s 2025 Campaign: Regional High Points and Global Challenges

Team Liquid’s 2025 journey cut across every major tier of the VALORANT season, producing a blend of promising regional performances and frustrating international results. At the year’s EMEA Kickoff, Liquid made a strong first impression by fighting through the lower bracket, defeating multiple league rivals and reaching the Grand Final before falling to Vitality. It was a statement opening, one that suggested Liquid could challenge at the top of the region.

However, their momentum faltered at Masters Bangkok, where the team competed in the initial Swiss stage but failed to progress to the playoffs. A mixed set of matchups, including a strong win over Sentinels offset by losses to EDward Gaming and G2, left Liquid outside bracket contention.

In EMEA Stage 1, Liquid maintained a competitive presence with a steady run through the league phase, yet their playoff push ended abruptly after a one-sided defeat to Team Heretics, ultimately coming third and making it to the second international that year. Liquid returned to international play at Masters Toronto, where a familiar pattern emerged: they earned an early victory against MIBR but were knocked out of Swiss after losses to Bilibili Gaming and eventual champions Paper Rex. Another international exit before playoffs added pressure heading into the summer.

The team’s strongest period came during EMEA Stage 2, where they pieced together one of their most complete regional stretches of the year and ended the event with a trophy and finally a 1st place finish Liquid qualified for Champions 2025 off the back of their Stage 2 results but the final event of the year followed a familiar script. A 1–2 record in groups ended their run before playoffs once again, an outcome that sharpened the organization’s desire for structural change and ultimately contributed to the roster overhaul ahead of 2026.

Keiko’s move to NRG emerged as one of the biggest offseason storylines. His mechanical output and duel-opening presence had been valuable for Liquid throughout 2025, but the organization opted to reset its approach to roles and long-term development. By releasing Keiko and integrating Wayne, Liquid has shifted toward a more flexible control-oriented roster with room for aggressive plays through MiniBoo and kamo.

We are proud to announce that our 2026 roster is locked in – stronger, sharper, hungrier.

Welcome to the next chapter of Team Liquid VALORANT! @purp03 @wayneeeVLR @nAts__ss @M1niBoo @kamoyeess @LohaN_vlr @yaotziN_twitch #LETSGOLIQUID #LETSGOLIQUID pic.twitter.com/fHsKd3yCt4

— Team Liquid VALORANT (@LiquidValorant) December 12, 2025

Team Liquid’s 2026 Lineup and Staff for the New Season

Team Liquid enters 2026 with a five-man lineup that balances high-level experience with fresh, region-spanning talent. The team fields nAts as its defensive anchor and in-game leader, kamo and MiniBoo as the primary fragging engines, purp0 as a hybrid flex who can shift between aggressive and supportive roles, and wayne as the new controller core. The coaching structure remains centered around Ivo “LohaN” Albino as head coach.

NAts remains the foundation of Liquid’s style, offering unmatched consistency on Sentinel roles and serving as the team’s primary voice in mid-round adjustments. kamo continues to be one of the roster’s most explosive entry threats, complementing the newly signed ex-Heretics player MiniBoo, whose experience and timing have long earned him a reputation as a high-impact duelist.

Purp0, who has played for the likes of Team Gambit in the past, is particularly valuable in a meta that rewards flexibility, and his experience shows he can pivot between controllers, duelists, and mid-round initiative roles depending on Liquid’s needs. Wayne rounds out the roster with steady impact and the ability to shift into secondary roles when compositions require it. His combination of agent expertise flexibility gives Liquid a fresh set of tactical levers heading into 2026.

Team Liquid’s roster for the 2026 VCT season now stands as:

• Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin

• Kamil “kamo” Frąckowiak

• Dominykas “MiniBoo” Lukaševičius

• Semyon “purp0” Borchev

• Wayne “wayne” Chang Wei Jie

Support Staff:

• Ivo “LohaN” Albino: Head Coach

• Daniel “yaotziN” Roczniak: Assistant Coach

• Berke “Mol” Mol: Manager

After a year defined by regional success and international frustration, Team Liquid has chosen a measured but significant rebuild for 2026. The addition of Wayne strengthens their tactical depth while opening up more flexible map-specific compositions, addressing several gaps exposed in the 2025 international cycle. With the team preparing to debut this lineup at the EMEA Kickoff in Berlin, Liquid enters the new season with a clearer identity, a diversified roster, and a tangible opportunity to push beyond the limitations that defined their previous year.