NRG’s Sam ‘s0m’ Oh has introduced that he’ll take a break from competing following his victory at VALORANT Champions 2025 earlier this month.
As a substitute, s0m is seeking to deal with content material creation throughout Twitch and YouTube, whereas watching and supporting NRG’s aggressive efforts through the 2026 VCT season.
“I’ll be taking a break. Positively not without end. I feel I’ll simply be taking a break from competing. I’ve been doing it for mainly ten years now,” shared s0m in yesterday’s announcement video.
“I’ve been doing it since I used to be 14. And I feel that with the latest Champions win, what higher time than now to kinda simply take a break.”
Initially hailing from the Counter-Strike aggressive scene, s0m transitioned to VALORANT esports in 2020, the identical yr he joined NRG. He’s been actively competing for the North American esports organisation ever since, aside from a nine-month hiatus between 2023 and 2024.
S0m and NRG’s Miracle Run at Champions 2025
This yr, s0m and NRG had a sluggish begin to their VCT season, with the group failing to qualify for each Masters occasions. Nonetheless, an sudden second-place end in VCT Americas Stage 2 secured NRG a slot at VALORANT Champions 2025 in Paris.
In France, the roster continued to defy expectations, rising undefeated from the event to raise the coveted Champions trophy.
“Simply wanting again on the yr, I’d wish to assume that all the things occurs for a cause,” s0m mirrored..
“We went by way of plenty of ups and downs with completely different rosters […] However I actually don’t assume that with out all of the experiences that I’ve been by way of – not simply this yr however all of the previous years – I’d be the place I’m as we speak.”
He additionally thanked all his followers and group members for his or her continued help all through his time in esports.
“Truthfully, it’s a little bit egocentric, I feel, of me, however I do know you guys will do nice with whoever you guys choose up…” the participant emphasised.
“Adam (mada) and I’ve talked about it, however if you win with a group, it’s actually a special form of love. I’ll be speaking about them for some time, and I don’t know if I’ll ever cease, to be trustworthy. When you guys cease working as laborious as you probably did with me, I’m gonna come again and I’m gonna whip all you guys into form. So don’t do this.”
Causes for the Break and s0m’s Future
Final night time, s0m went reside on Twitch to shed additional mild on his resolution to step away and what the long run holds for him and his group.
“There was no higher time for me than after Champs to essentially pursue content material creating. […] I’m gonna put in hella work into content material creating. I feel profitable as a Champ, particularly with the group, was in all probability like the very best factor I may have requested for to kinda finish my profession,” highlighted the NRG member.
He admitted that he’d been enthusiastic about taking a break a number of occasions all year long and additional defined: “You guys would possibly say ‘retiring at 23 is loopy’. Neglect the age. Simply competing for eight, 9, ten years basically, realizing that you’ve got content material creating, as effectively, it’s a reasonably laborious resolution to make.”
Along with his major focus now on content material creation, s0m plans to stream “each single day”. Furthermore, he promised to co-stream NRG’s upcoming matches and help his former teammates of their aggressive efforts.
