Team Liquid’s new Valorant signing Nivera switches from CS:GO to play with brother ScreaM, aiming for Champions qualification
A Strategic Roster Shift: Nivera Joins Team Liquid
In a significant Valorant offseason move, Belgian phenom Nabil ‘Nivera’ Benrlitom has completed his transition from CS:GO, signing with Team Liquid to compete alongside his renowned brother, Adil ‘ScreaM’ Benrlitom.
Nivera becomes the latest in a growing line of elite CS:GO talents to migrate to Riot Games’ tactical shooter, solidifying Team Liquid’s EMEA roster with a high-ceiling, mechanically gifted player.
The 20-year-old’s signing concludes months of speculation, formally filling the vacant fifth spot on Liquid’s starting lineup. This move is timed strategically, providing a crucial boost before a high-pressure tournament.
He steps in for James ‘Kryptix’ Affleck, a foundational member since Liquid entered Valorant in August 2020 via the fish123 acquisition. The organization clarified that Kryptix is temporarily stepping aside to address personal matters, leaving the door open for a potential future return.
Nivera’s debut is slated for the EMEA Last Chance Qualifier for Valorant Champions, running from October 10-17. This tournament represents Liquid’s final opportunity to secure a berth at the year-end world championship.
Liquid’s management is betting that Nivera’s raw skill and fresh perspective will reinvigorate a squad that faltered in the EMEA Challengers Playoffs, missing the VCT Stage 3 Masters in Berlin after a 5th-6th place finish. The team needs immediate synergy to overcome a stacked LCQ field.
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From Vitality’s Six-Man Rotation to the Bench
Nivera’s path to Valorant is rooted in a promising CS:GO career that hit an institutional roadblock. He exploded onto the international stage in late 2020 with Team Vitality, contributing to major victories at IEM Beijing-Haidian Europe and the BLAST Premier Fall Finals as part of an innovative six-man squad.
Vitality pioneered tactical flexibility through expanded rosters, a strategy ultimately neutered by Valve’s 2021 Major circuit rules. The stipulation that teams would lose Regional Major Ranking (RMR) points for player substitutions forced a return to static five-man lineups.
This rule change made Nivera the casualty of a role clash within Vitality. As then in-game leader Dan “apEX” Madesclaire explained, the young Belgian’s position overlapped with core starters, leaving him as the logical choice for the bench despite his proven talent.
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Months of bench inactivity fueled speculation. In a tier-one CS:GO scene with limited top-team openings, many analysts predicted his eventual migration to Valorant, joining the exodus of talent seeking new competitive landscapes and financial opportunities.
A Calculated Career Move, Not a Desperate Escape
Contrary to narratives of necessity, Nivera frames his switch as a deliberate pursuit of passion. In discussions with Dexerto, he refuted the idea that CS:GO doors were closed to him, stating instead that his motivation for the game had faded.
“I had offers from several CS teams, but my drive to compete at the highest level in that game was gone,” he explained. “Continuing professionally in CS felt like a path without passion.”
His Valorant preparation began in earnest nearly six months ago, following his benching. While untested in official matches, Nivera has built substantial confidence through dedicated practice, leveraging transferable skills from his Counter-Strike background.
“I’ve immersed myself in agent abilities and meta strategies,” he noted. “The core tactical shooting mechanics have significant overlap with CS, which accelerated my learning curve dramatically.”
A central allure of the Liquid offer is the chance to partner with his brother ScreaM, a childhood idol and long-time mentor. Their professional paths are deeply intertwined.
Following ScreaM’s advice to join Heretics in 2019, Nivera again sought his counsel during his CS:GO uncertainty. ScreaM’s belief in Valorant’s esports future proved decisive.
“He convinced me of Valorant’s long-term potential, and I trust his vision completely,” Nivera said. “His guidance has been invaluable throughout my career. While I believe I would have switched regardless, having my brother as a teammate makes this journey infinitely more exciting.”
Baptism by Fire: The Road to Valorant Champions
Nivera faces an immediate high-stakes challenge. His competitive debut for Liquid will occur in the crucible of the Last Chance Qualifier, where failure means missing Valorant Champions entirely.
The EMEA LCQ features a formidable gauntlet of teams like G2 Esports, SuperMassive Blaze, and Guild Esports, all battling for one final spot at the world championship. There is no margin for error or extended adjustment periods.
Yet, Nivera displays a characteristic calm. He aims to replicate his stunning CS:GO debut, where he immediately impacted Vitality at the highest level. The pressure seems to sharpen, not diminish, his focus.
“My approach remains unchanged: maximum effort and adaptability,” he stated. “I am confident that with dedicated work, this team can ascend to the global elite.”
“Qualifying for Valorant Champions is our singular, immediate objective. Every practice, every strat, will be geared toward achieving that goal.”
Practical Tip for Aspiring Cross-Game Migrants: Nivera’s transition highlights the importance of identifying transferable core skills. If you’re moving from CS:GO to Valorant, focus first on mastering the universal fundamentals: crosshair placement, movement, and economic management. Agent abilities layer on top of this foundation. Drill aim trainers using Valorant’s unique recoil patterns and practice ‘dry peeking’ without abilities to solidify mechanical skill.
Common Roster Integration Mistake to Avoid: Teams often throw a new player into complex roles immediately. A better strategy is to assign them a comfortable, self-sufficient role (like a duelist) for their first few matches to build confidence and simple team chemistry before integrating more complex supportive or initiator duties.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » ScreaM’s brother Nivera switches to Valorant to join Liquid: “I lost my motivation to play CS” Team Liquid's new Valorant signing Nivera switches from CS:GO to play with brother ScreaM, aiming for Champions qualification