JessieVash Announces Hiatus from Valorant Esports

In a surprising turn of event, Team Secret Philippines has announced the departure of famed Valorant’s in-game leader and veteran player, Jessie Cristy “JessieVash” Cuyco, from their roster.

In a social media statement, the organization revealed that Jessie wanted to take an indefinite break from competitive play to focus on his family and transition into non-competitive roles, including content creation.

Jessie’s exit marks the end of an era, considering he was the first Filipino in the team who opened the door for local talents to strengthen the team and had been its longest-standing member since 2021. At 35, he was also the oldest player on the roster.

Despite facing criticism for occasional blunders in high-stakes series, Jessie earned respect as a seasoned in-game leader. His most memorable achievement was leading Team Secret to the playoffs of the 2021 VCT Champions in Berlin with a roster averaging 29-31 years in age—a rare feat in Valorant esports.

Replacing him is Kelly “kellyS” Sedillo, formerly the in-game leader for India’s Global Esports and a regular in the VCT Pacific circuit. The 25-year-old now faces the challenge of reviving ‘The Filipino Pride’ as they prepare for July’s VCT Pacific Stage 2.