How Former VALORANT World Champion c0m is regaining his stride.

The VCT 2026 season has been a whirlwind of emotions for FURIA initiator Corbin “c0m” Lee. However, just when c0m’s VCT 2026 season was on the precipice of defeat, the former World Champion is now in a spot to revitalize this past season of his established professional career.

Prior to the start of the VCT 2026 season, c0m rejoined Evil Geniuses as the team’s in-game leader. At first, his reunion with Evil Geniuses felt like a welcome homecoming to the early days of his VALORANT career. However, despite the team’s talent, they couldn't manufacture a win during VCT Americas Stage One 2026 under c0m’s leadership.

As a result of the team’s disappointing Stage One performance, Evil Geniuses made the decision to part ways with c0m ahead of VCT Americas Stage 2 2026, leaving the veteran teamless going into Stage 2.

Over the next few weeks, he reflected on his start to the VCT 2026 season and did things outside of competing on the VCT stage. In that time away from the spotlight, he started reflecting on his “day-to-day” routine.

“Stage One was a lot of trying to figure out how to deal with losses and how to look at myself as a player and how I’m doing things on the day-to-day,” c0m said. “That’s what those two stages helped me learn.”

Granted second life with FURIA

The former VALORANT World Champion continued working on aspects of his personal life while diving into the world of VALORANT co-streaming alongside former VALORANT pro Pujan “FNS” Mehta. However, he would soon be hit with an unexpected offer to make his return to Tier One VALORANT a lot sooner than he would have expected with FURIA.

“I kind of just got this offer out of the blue, and I was just like, I just have to do it,” c0m said. “If I really want to keep competing, I have to make this work.”

C0m immediately slotted into FURIA’s team as a secondary leader, where he did his best to help lead the team back to the form that qualified them to VALORANT Masters Santiago. While FURIA continued to struggle in Stage 2, the team had one final opportunity to reverse their fortunes through the VCT Americas Stage Two Play-Ins where they regained their footing as a team.

The team began their campaign by taking down 2GAME before following that up with an upset over reigning VCT Americas Stage One 2026 champions G2 Esports. A big part of that came from the team’s relentless hours spent preparing for their opponents.

“The last seven days are definitely the hardest we’ve worked,” c0m said. 

Ever since finishing 0-5 in the VCT Americas Stage 2 regular season, FURIA’s days have been filled with mornings studying VODs before entering their usual day of scrims.

“Everyone has been trying to put forth their best effort and keep the team mentally strong as much as possible,” c0m said. “We’re trying to keep each other built up and build that confidence.”

2026 has been a year of lows for c0m, making it difficult for the VALORANT community to see him as the same player who won VALORANT Champions 2023. Yet, despite the ongoing doubters, c0m never lost confidence in himself through all these low periods.

"I always try to keep believing no matter what," c0m after G2 victory.

“I always try to keep believing no matter what,” c0m said. “I’m just trying to be happy and enjoy what I’m doing. I’ve been in this space for seven or eight years since VALORANT has come out. I’m just trying to enjoy what I’m doing while I can still do it and not look at this random perception of me because it’s just not true.”

Just last week, FURIA appeared to be on the precipice of their 2026 season coming to an abrupt end. Now, FURIA stands one series win away from qualifying for the VCT Americas Stage 2 2026 playoffs. Their first opponent is c0m’s former team, Evil Geniuses, and he is looking forward to a rematch against former teammates.

“I was very sad after that loss, to be honest, but I think this team has changed a lot and for the better,” c0m said. “I think it will be a different match, even to the point where we’ll be a lot stronger, but only time will tell.”

It will be interesting to see whether FURIA and c0m can continue the incredible form they showed against G2 Esports this past weekend and make a run to the VCT Americas Stage 2 2026 playoffs. Their next opponent will be up against Evil Geniuses on August 21, 2026.