Malkolm "bonkar" Rench is set to join NRG, sources told Sheep Esports, after a verbal agreement was found on Friday. The Swedish VALORANT coach will take the vacant seat of Chet "Chet" Singh who had been working with the organization since the start of 2023. After a disappointing year, NRG is looking to make their team more competitive for next season, which will likely mean that this change will not be their last. bonkar was among those coaches that gathered the most interest in the Western VCT scene.

Bonkar reaches agreement and unlocks the off season

The former coach from Oxygen Esports,active in the VCL North America, has indeed made notice for himself on the transfer market. He already was the second option for Movistar KOI, additionally sources told Sheep Esports that NAVI, Vitality and Team Liquid all had strong interest in acquiring his services before he finally chose NRG. During the 2023-2024 season, bonkar led his team to four titles and one second place over five tournament participations. This year, he won North-America’s VCL Mid-Season Cup, and ended in the fourth place in the second split playoffs.

On their side, NRG failed to meet expectations after their good but trophyless year in 2023. This time, while being directed by the same coach, the team still went trophyless and didn’t have any really good results after the Americas Kickoff. At this event, the North-American team ended in the third/fourth place, falling short to Sentinels (2-1) and therefore failing to qualify for Masters Madrid. But after this introduction stage, the team seemed to fall apart even more, failing to qualify for VCT Americas playoffs even once, over the two other splits.