aspas & zekken Amongst Benched Players as MIBR Evaluates Roster
MIBR has announced the benching of its entire active Valorant roster ahead of the 2027 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) season. The move affects high-profile players including Erick “aspas” Santos and Zachary “zekken” Patrone, among others. According to the organization’s statement, the benched players remain under contract with MIBR but are now available for transfer negotiations.
The decision comes as part of a roster evaluation period following the organization’s selection as a Partner Team in the restructured 2027 Valorant circuit. The benching was prompted in part by MIBR’s underwhelming performance in VCT Americas Stage 2, where the Brazilian team finished 5th-6th place, ultimately failing to qualify for the Valorant Champions 2026 championship in Shanghai.
As a newly selected Partner Team for 2027, MIBR is among 32 organizations chosen for the restructured VCT format. The benching of star players suggests the organization intends to significantly rebuild its competitive roster for the upcoming season, with established players like aspas and zekken now available on the transfer market.