Nearly two years after lifting the VALORANT Champions 2023 trophy and being named MVP in his rookie year, Maximilian “Demon1” Mazanov is back on the market.
Leviatán announced on Aug. 12, 2025, that they have released the 19-year-old after a challenging 10-month run marked by underwhelming results.
At a raucous Kia Forum in Los Angeles, fans roared as Demon1 helped Evil Geniuses (EG) become the first VCT Americas team to lift an international trophy.
Demon1 instantly became a legend, boasting a 1.26 rating, a K:D ratio of 1.39, and an ADR of 166.4. His incredible performance, culminating in a 3-1 win over Paper Rex in the Grand Final, earned Mazanov the MVP award.
Demon1 holding the Champions 2023 trophy. Image Credit: Colin Young-Wolff / Riot Games
The 2023 Grand Final was nearly two years ago (Aug. 26, 2023), and the once prodigal youngster is now looking for his next team after failing to add any trophies to his legacy.
Demon1 Declares Free Agency Ahead of 2026 VCT Season
After three months on the bench at Leviatán, the organization announced that they are saying goodbye to Demon1 in a short post on X, saying: “best of luck in your future endeavors.”
today we’re saying goodbye to @Demon1___ ❤️
best of luck in your future endeavors 🫡 pic.twitter.com/mIpiCF0yLN
— LEVIATAN (@LeviatanENG) August 8, 2025
The announcement marks the end of Demon1’s 10-month stint with Leviatán, during which the squad saw poor results, with the only notable finishes being 5th/6th place at VCT 2025 Americas Kickoff and 9th/10th at VCT 2025 Americas Stage 1.
Taking to X, Demon1 declared: “LFT for the upcoming 2026 season as Duelist/Controller/Sentinel.”
LFT for the upcoming 2026 season as duelist/controller/sentinel
— Demon1 (@Demon1___) August 10, 2025
His brief statement was met with overwhelming support, as fans wished Demon1 good luck and a speedy return to competition.
A Proven Champion Looking to Write His Next Chapter
At the time of writing, it’s impossible to predict which team will add the legend to their active roster.
The hope for fans is that he gets a spot on one of the 12 VCT Americas rosters.
With Duelist, Controller, and Sentinel roles on the table, he should find a team during the offseason.
Demon1 has already etched his name into VALORANT history. Any team that takes the risk will gain a player with the experience and skill to dominate on the world stage.
One question remains: who’s willing to face their inner Demon1s?