Cubert Academy players win Red Bull Home Ground Canadian Qualifier 2025: “I’m looking forward to seeing them in VCT in the future.”

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At the culmination of the tournament, Cubert Academy outplayed TSM in the semifinals and subsequently defeated Shopify Rebellion Black 2-0 in the finals to claim the national championship title. This marks their triumphant climb to the pinnacle of success!

The Canadian Qualifier for Red Bull Home Ground has come to an end at Fan Expo Canada, with Cubert Academy emerging as champions! This triumph secures a place in the upcoming play-ins for the Red Bull Home Ground World Final for Marc-Andre “NiSMO” Tayar, Yassin “reduxx” Aboulalazm, Christian “nightz” Smith, Mirel “Kyu” Hrustemovic, and their satellite team. Esports.gg had the opportunity to conduct exclusive interviews with NiSMO, reduxx, and nightz, discussing the key factors that led them to the pinnacle of competition.

Cubert Academy unites for Red Bull Home Ground Canadian Qualifier 2025

Before the Red Bull Home Ground Canadian Qualifier began on August 23 at 10 a.m. ET, the Cubert Academy team had already put in the necessary work. The day before, despite encountering technical issues, they persisted and remained focused. This was their first LAN event as a team, so their goal was to establish a strong bond in person to boost their synergy.

During an interview with Xpsp, NiSMO disclosed that even though offline competition presented a stark contrast compared to online play, Cubert Academy appreciated the opportunity to symbolize Canada, boasting a team of three Canadians on their roster.

For the first time in a year, playing with my teammates together feels fantastic. The experience is notably different when you play locally (LAN) compared to online, making it even more thrilling. Our connection seems stronger now than ever before, which is wonderful. Adding to this excitement, we’re competing in a Canadian tournament, and being a Canadian team is an added bonus. So, all in all, I must say that the atmosphere is electrifying, and it’s enjoyable to reunite with the team.

Nightz concurred, explaining that the LAN event provided an excellent platform for the team to interact personally and enhance their collective performance. Moreover, he pointed out that it offered a unique opportunity to observe their collaboration in a real-life setting.

Nightz mentioned that everyone had a desire to attend a boot camp or gather together at some point, and this event presents an excellent chance for that. Both Nightz and NiSMO have played online games before. Given their college experience, they’ve attended LAN events previously as well. They understand there will likely be technical difficulties and problems, but maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. While it’s their team’s first time at a LAN, some teams struggle in such environments, while others excel. They are working on determining where they stand.

Cubert Academy’s journey to the top

Based on information from Reduxx, the Cubert Academy team typically dedicates between 7 to 8 hours daily to honing their skills in VALORANT. Being proficient in mechanics already, most of their practice time is spent refining strategies, reviewing VODs, and enhancing team synchronization. Each member brings unique strengths to the table: NiSMO has extensive experience, Kyu shines after his college play, nightz excels at raw mechanics, and Satellite impresses with his diligence after switching from Duelist to Sentinel roles. Their extended practice hours underscore their commitment to every match and the significance they place on VALORANT esports competition.

Redux shared, “This game is essentially my world, and at first, it wasn’t intended to be a real academy team. But over time, it organically evolved into one. As I see Cubert, our team’s red and cubic mascot, in the crowd or people donning Cubert jerseys, it truly brings me joy.

Ultimately, Cubert Academy defeated TSM 2-0 in the semifinals and also overpowered Shopify Rebellion Black 2-0 in the final. In spite of encountering technical problems and playing on a new patch, the team focused, relied on their skills and teamwork, and ruled the Red Bull Home Ground Canadian Qualifier to secure their spot in the next round.

nightz expressed to Xpsp his desire to compete against international teams. He shared that such a challenge would significantly excite him since they often practice with North American (NA) teams. The opportunity to play against an international team, particularly in a match setting and emerging victorious, would undeniably boost his excitement.

Supporting Cubert Academy on and off the stage

Alright, game over folks! Before signing off, I gotta give a shoutout to my peeps – you know who you are. Nightz here, sending love to my loved ones back home.

As for NiSMO, he’s got a heart as big as his in-game character. He took a moment to thank everyone backing Cubert Academy with their Cubert plushies, jerseys, and cheers at Fan Expo Canada. To him, the fans are more than just supporters – they’re like family!

NiSMO emphasized that his team members are quite young but gaining recognition. He urges everyone not to underestimate his players as they are all exceptionally talented. He is excited about their participation in VCT in the upcoming days.

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2025-08-24 02:41