G2 Petra has returned to the organisation’s active Valorant Champions Tour Game Changers roster.
After being controversially moved to the bench in April, fans are celebrating Petra ‘Petra’ Stoker’s return to competition on G2 Gozen.
From roster, to bench, to roster again
G2 Petra is one of the most successful European VCT Game Changers Players. They won eight EMEA Regional Series wins, won the Game Changers Championship in 2022, and came third in the 2023 and 2024 Game Changers Championships.
However, in April 2025, G2 decided to move Petra to the bench in favour of running trials. New signing Esllene ‘Akita’ Xu eventually took her place.
During her time away from the active roster, Petra continued streaming and even participated in VCT broadcasts, joining the VCT EMEA on-air talent during the Regional Final.
Initially, it appeared as though the team were doing well in her absence. G2 Gozen dominated the VCT Game Changers EMEA Group Stage. They went unbeaten for all nine games, only dropping three maps.
However, during the EMEA Playoffs, it was evident that the roster had become disjointed.
In what the G2 Gozen manager, Thibault ‘Tibalt’ Pulcini, described as a “terribly disappointing way to end the split,” the team crashed out of the competition after losing two consecutive games.
As a result, G2 Petra is back on the active roster.
Tibalt posted online about the decision, admitting that their early 2025 roster reshuffle ultimately failed. Overall, G2 Gozen decided to return to familiarity and bring back one of their longest-standing players.
G2 Petra returning prompts reshuffle for G2 Nelo
Making space for Petra to return meant moving another player away from active play. Ultimately, this responsibility fell to G2 Nelo.
Nelo previously played for Karmine Corp, which recently won the VCT Game Changers EMEA Grand Final.
However, Nelo struggled to perform during G2’s role-swapping experiments.
Earlier in the 2025 season, G2 Gozen decided to move Petra from Initator to Smokes (which contributed to her leaving for the bench), Amy ‘Amy’ Lai was moved away from Sentinel, and Nelo had to fulfil a Sentinel role instead.
This decision has been recognised by G2 Gozen management as a mistake.
Tibalt explained that alongside Petra’s return to the roster, Amy will return to Sentinel, Petra will retake the Initiator role, Vania will stay focused on smokes, and Akita will remain the team’s duelest. Michaela ‘mimi’ Lintrup will retain her IGL and flex roles.
The unpredictability of Valorant Esports may provide a great deal of entertainment in areas such as the Valorant betting scene. Still, it is one of the biggest hurdles for players and teams to overcome. Moving forward, G2 Gozen is betting on bringing back one of their most experienced players, returning them to their glory days.
Hannah is a writer specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports and Apex Legends, although it may never surpass her drive to passionately beat her friends in every game of Mariokart. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ESI London, EGX, Discover: Esports and many League of Legends watch parties.
