Brazilian VALORANT star Douglas “dgzin” Silva is set to join North American esports powerhouse Evil Geniuses for the 2026 season, a move highlighting the global talent flow and growing diversity within professional gaming.
The signing, announced last Friday, brings Silva, known by his nickname “maridão,” to his third team in the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Americas.
His transfer from Brazil’s Team Solid to Los Angeles signifies a significant international shift for the player.
The announcement generated over 405,000 impressions on social media platform X, reflecting Silva’s considerable popularity among fans.
Silva is also recognized as one of the few Black professional players in the VALORANT competitive landscape, a detail that underscores broader discussions about representation in esports.
Evil Geniuses simultaneously announced the additions of Bao “bao” Nguyen and Anthony “okeanos” Nguyen.
Corbin “C0M” Lee, a VALORANT Champions winner with the organization, will also return to the roster.
The full 2026 Evil Geniuses VALORANT lineup includes Douglas “dgzin” Silva, Corbin “C0M” Lee, Bao “bao” Nguyen, Anthony “okeanos” Nguyen, and Phat “supamen” Le.
Prior to joining Evil Geniuses, Silva played for several notable teams, including B4 Esports, Stars Horizon, Gamelanders, FURIA, Hero Base, LOUD, and Team Solid.