Version1 signs Wardell as temporary stand-in for Wippie

Version1 has signed Matthew “Wardell” Yu as a temporary stand-in for its VALORANT roster ahead of the NA VCT Challengers Stage Two open qualifiers. Wardell will temporarily fill in for Russian player Maxim “wippie” Shepelev, who is unable to play due to “visa related circumstances.”

Wardell has emerged as one of the most sought-after players during this brief transfer/free agency period between NA VCT stages. TSM and Wardell parted ways just over a month ago at the end of March, due to his unwillingness to move to Texas with the rest of the roster. He was earlier linked to a potential 100T move but more recently has been practicing alongside the V1 roster, according to George Geddes.