After being benched by Gentle Mates in March, Robbie "RobbieBk" Boerkamp is preparing for a new chapter across the Atlantic, in the VCT Americas. According to Sheep Esports sources, the Dutch in-game leader has reached a verbal agreement with LOUD, and the two organizations have settled on the terms of his buyout. This move marks the first time the Initiator will leave the European scene. Active on the competitive VALORANT circuit since 2021, he had a particularly strong 2024 season with Joblife in VCL France. RobbieBk led his teammates to two national championship titles, securing a promotion to the upper echelon: VCT EMEA.

However, things took a different turn following his arrival at Gentle Mates. The team was eliminated early in the Kickoff tournament, finishing in a disappointing 7th–8th place. The issue is significant: as winners of the 2023 Ascension tournament, Gentle Mates earned their spot in the regional elite for two years and must qualify for Champions to retain it another season. In light of this pressure, the organization needed to move swiftly, and RobbieBk became the first casualty of the reshuffle. He was replaced in the starting five by a former teammate from JL, Maks "kamyk" Rychlewski—who, for his part, had been promoted by Team Liquid. The change didn't pay off, however, as M8 finished bottom of its group in Stage 1 and thus failed to qualify for the playoffs.

A Rough Start to the Season

According to our sources, LOUD is planning changes not only to its player roster but also to its coaching staff. The rationale is clear: after competing at the highest levels of both regional and international tournaments between 2022 and 2023, the team has gradually declined since mid-2024. In 2025, LOUD failed to place higher than 5th–6th in the VCT Americas Kickoff and performed even more poorly in Stage 1. The team has been eliminated, finishing at the bottom of its group, recording five losses and no wins. Much like Gentle Mates, LOUD now appears in urgent need of revitalization—and the organization is banking on RobbieBk to embody this new direction.