Benched Duelist Semyon Borchev Started Looking for a New Team Six Days Before Valorant Champions
The player remains under contract until 2027 but was replaced for Shanghai by an eighteen year old promoted from the organisation's academy side.
Semyon Borchev, the Valorant duelist known as purp0, said on 18 September 2026 that he was looking for a new team, six days before Champions opens in Shanghai.
Team Liquid had benched him on 9 September 2026 and promoted Ognjen Bondzic, an 18 year old Serbian duelist known as GSR, for the tournament. Liquid said Bondzic had been extremely impressive and that the change gave the team its best opportunity for success in Shanghai.
The organisation also wanted more flexibility in its compositions, Borchev's strongest work having come on Jett. Bondzic had played for Liquid's academy side since 2025, winning a stage title in the North and East regional league and reaching a further grand final.
Borchev remains under contract with Liquid until 2027 but is free to explore offers. He said he would consider either a duelist or a flexible role and was open to any region.
Liquid are drawn in Group C at Champions alongside Paper Rex, TYLOO and G2 Esports, and open against the Singapore based Paper Rex on 24 September 2026. The tournament runs until 18 October with a prize pool of 2,250,000 US dollars.