Keep your Enemies Closer: Dapr announced as new addition to Oxygen Esports Valorant lineup

23 Aug

Foo Zen-Wen

On 22nd September, North American organization Oxygen Esports has announced Michael “dapr” Gulino as the newest addition to their roster. The former Sentinels and G2 Esports player will join Oxygen Esports for their 2024 season.

**Second Shot at Valorant Challengers League**

After departing from Sentinels at the end of 2022, “dapr” found himself amidst a scramble for the extremely limited slots in VCT Americas. With only 10 teams and 50 slots available, the former sentinel specialist-turned flex player had few teams considering him. Eventually, he landed on G2 Esports alongside former teammate Shahzeb “ShahZaM” Khan. The duo, armed with an assortment of rookies and less-experienced players, would initially find success in the North American Challengers League.

G2 ended the first split in 3rd place, right behind The Guard and M80. Most considered the lineup on this team to be among the strongest of North Americas Tier 2 scene, especially considering both “dapr” and “ShahZaM” were prior Masters winners.

After placing 2nd place at the North America Face Off event, falling to eventual victors M80, their position looked solidified for a decent run at Ascension later that year. However, come Split 2, their form would drastically drop off, leaving them in 11th place to finish their regular season. In Playoffs, they placed 5th-6th, ending their 2023 dreams of qualifying for Ascension. Following the end of their 2023 season, G2 would elect to rebuild their roster, removing all five players from their lineup, including the support staff as well.

Dapr joins Oxygen Esports Valorant roster- Strafe Esports

Sentinels' Michael "dapr" Gulino at the VALORANT Champions Tour 2021: VCT Masters Reykjavík Grand Finals on May 30, 2021 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

Always a Strong Contender

Oxygen Esports displayed over the course of 2023 that they were a consistent force, topping out at 6th place in Split 1. They then placed 4th at the Face Off event, just behind G2 (to whom they lost to). In Split 2 and Playoffs, they placed 4th in both as well, showcasing that they were a team that were on the cusp of breaking into the top of the league.

In the aftermath of the Face Off event, josh “pwny” VanGorder departed from the active lineup, swapping over to the substitute role. Assistant coach Rustun “Rustun” Lusk was promoted to the active roster to replace “pwny.” Despite the swap, Oxygen still managed to achieve similar results.

The addition of “dapr” to the lineup will replace “Rustun,” who has once more taken on the mantle of Assistant coach. The former’s addition to the lineup brings much needed Tier 1 LAN experience and veterancy to the roster that was previously only upheld by former Cloud9 member Mitch “mitch” Semago. “mitch” has only competed in one international event thus far in his Valorant career, competing in the 2021 Valorant Champions.

However, he is also a veteran of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, having competed in that title for nearly half a decade. The experience “dapr” brings to the roster is more recent and potentially more applicable, as he brings not only over 3 years of Counter-Strike experience, but also 3 international Valorant event appearances (2021 Reykjavik, 2021 Berlin, and 2021 Champions).

Caliber of a Champion

Throughout his time on both Sentinels and G2 Esports, “dapr” has had to put on many hats, serving as the sentinel specialist at times for his team, or as the flex player at other times. He was noted as one of the standout candidates towards the end of the 2021 Sentinels roster (one of the only players who was still putting out consistent performances). “dapr” has also been credited as one of the original Cypher and sentinel specialists in Valorant, showcasing the extreme highs and strengths of the agent. In 2020 and 2021, when “dapr” was holding a site, you were not getting in.

With the addition of “dapr”, Oxygen’s roster is brought back to five. A roster comprised of mostly rookies, his integration into the roster as both a steadying element as well as experienced site anchor will be pivotal in determining Oxygen Esports’ performance in 2024.