BOOM Esports has announced the departure of Dastan ‘dos9’ Zhumagali from its VALORANT roster ahead of the 2026 season.
The Indonesian player signed with BOOM in October last year, when the organisation replaced Ascension winner Bleed Esports for the 2025 VCT Pacific season.
Dos9 has been competing for a variety of tier-two VALORANT teams since 2021. Prior to his time with BOOM, the smokes player was signed to Indian esports organisation Revenant Esports, under which he won the Challengers 2024 South Asia: Split 2.
“Thanks BOOM for the given opportunity, I gave my everything,” commented dos9 on yesterday’s announcement.
“2025 season with this team will have a special space in my heart, still watching and supporting them in their ascension journey, wish them luck.”
According to esports media outlet Sheep Esports, dos9 has already reached a verbal agreement to join VCT EMEA’s Karmine Corp for next year’s season. However, the rumour has yet to be confirmed.
BOOM Esports’ VCT 2025 Season
Since 2020, BOOM Esports has been competing in Southeast Asia’s tier-two VALORANT scene. A victory at the APAC Last Chance Qualifier even earned the Indonesian team a spot at 2022’s VALORANT Champions tournament.
At the end of 2024, BOOM secured a one-year promotion to the Pacific division of Riot Games’ franchised VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) thanks to its second-place finish at VCT Pacific Ascension.
Riot made the decision to promote BOOM after the removal of Ascension winner Bleed Esports due to failure to comply with ‘critical reporting requirements’ and other obligations under the Team Participation Agreement.
However, the team couldn’t find its footing in tier one and failed to qualify for any of the three global competitions this year. Moreover, BOOM suffered an early Stage 1 Playoffs elimination despite its flawless 5-0 match score in the Group Stage.
Following this disappointing Stage 1 conclusion, the team ended its VCT season with a winless 0-5 Group Stage 2 performance.
Under Riot’s updated relegation rules for Ascension teams, BOOM’s failure to reach Stage 2’s Playoffs led to a direct demotion to the 2026 Challenger circuit..
