Korean participant Cho ‘Flashback‘ Min-hyuk has formally introduced his retirement from the VALORANT esports scene.
The announcement on DRX’s social media channel occurred shortly earlier than the beginning of the brand new 2026 aggressive season. In his stead, the Korean staff has picked up Ahn ‘Hermes‘ Byeong-wook, who was beforehand on FEARX.
“Following the conclusion of the 2025 VCT OFF//SEASON, Flashback approached our administration to debate his future and formally requested his contract to be terminated so as to retire and re-centre his life away from aggressive Valorant,” DRX stated in its assertion.
“After quite a few deliberations involving our teaching workers, administration, and gamers, all events have in the end agreed to assist Flashback’s choice.”
As a participant raised in DRX Academy, Flashback had taken totally different private leaves over the previous years, along with his third return to the roster being final 12 months in July, forward of the VCT Pacific Stage 2.
His return allowed the staff to regain kind for the final a part of the 2025 season, which culminated in a high a top-three end on the 2025 VALORANT Champions Tour in Paris. Now, nonetheless, it seems like Flashback will grasp up his mouse and keyboard for good going ahead.
DRX Welcomes Hermes to exchange Flashback
To interchange the retiring participant, DRX has picked up Hermes, who has been competing within the VALORANT Challengers Korea for the final 4 years. The 20-year-old will get his likelihood in tier-one play after a number of robust splits, together with two first-place finishes and a third-place end with FEARX final season.
Hermes will make his debut with the remainder of the DRX roster on January twenty fourth when the staff will play its first VCT 2026 Pacific Kickoff match. On account of final 12 months’s Champions qualification, the staff has been positioned within the higher bracket quarterfinals and can face the winner between ZETA DIVISION and FULL SENSE.
DRX can also be making adjustments to the academy staff, having parted methods with Park ‘Exy0’ Sang-hyeok. His alternative has but to be unveiled.
