Reports suggest that Samet “Kachoww” Arıcı has informally agreed to join Team Liquid for the upcoming 2027 VCT EMEA season, as per sources connected to Sheep Esports. The 17-year-old Turkish Duelist is expected to become a part of Liquid’s roster plans for next year, although the deal is still in the verbal stage and not yet finalized.
Following his departure from Fire Flux Esports, where he played a key role in their impressive performance at the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-In in Barcelona, Kachoww became a free agent. Fire Flux’s remarkable run, which saw them reach the top four in the tournament, came to an end at the hands of Team Liquid, who went on to secure the runner-up position in the Stage 2 Grand Final. This notable showing garnered interest from several EMEA organizations, with at least four teams reportedly vying for Kachoww’s talents for the upcoming VCT season.
Liquid’s Roster Outlook for 2027
This reported interest comes at a time when Liquid is making adjustments to its roster in preparation for the upcoming Champions event. The team recently made changes by removing Semyon “purp0” Borchev and adding Ognjen “GSR” Bondžić, a player developed through Team Liquid’s academy program who had not previously competed at the Tier 1 level.
In terms of contracts, Liquid’s roster for 2027 appears to be taking shape. Players such as Ayaz “nAts” Akhmetshin, Kamil “kamo” Frąckowiak, Kimmie “Kicks” Laasner, and Nikita “trexx” Cherednichenko are locked in until the end of 2026, while GSR’s contract extends all the way to 2029, as indicated in Riot’s Global Contract Database.
Continuing the Trend of Investing in Youth
If Kachoww’s reported move materializes, it would align with Liquid’s strategy of nurturing young talent for their Champions roster. GSR’s swift transition from the academy system to the international stage at the recent event exemplifies the organization’s willingness to take calculated risks, a strategy they may be employing again by considering a 17-year-old duelist like Kachoww who is relatively new to Tier 1 competition.
It’s important to note that nothing has been officially confirmed yet. While there is a verbal agreement in place, no signed contract has been announced by Team Liquid regarding Kachoww. Given his age of 17, he would only be eligible to compete for the organization starting from next season’s Kickoff, allowing time for any potential changes in the 2027 tour structure and format adjustments before any official announcements are made.