G2 Esports has brought about the return of Nathan “leaf” Orf’s to competitive play after the player was absent from most of VCT Americas Stage 2 and the Esports World Cup because of health-related complications, and he immediately made his presence felt.
leaf is one of the strongest players on G2, having been with the team since 2023 and helping the team to numerous triumphs. He was instrumental in helping G2 win the VCT Americas Kickoff event and powered G2 to multiple top-finishes at Masters events this year. leaf was moved to the bench ahead of the 2025 Esports World Cup because of health issues, with former FaZe Clan pro Andrej “babybay” Francisty replacing him.
The Valorant player was expected to miss at least part of the VCT Americas Stage 2, but with his medical condition unknown, fans weren’t sure whether he’d return in time for the event’s finals. In August, leaf tweeted about his illness and also revealed that he may be returning soon, and just a few days later G2 tweeted a video montage announcing leaf’s official return.
According to reports, G2 will keep babybay on its Valorant roster for the remainder of the 2025 season, even after leaf makes his return to the team’s active roster.
babybay had struggled initially to fully take on leaf’s role in G2 after the player’s health-related break. Sentinels took advantage of this in the, defeating G2 2-1 in a showdown between arguably the two strongest teams in the Americas. But babybay soon better adjusted to his new role and became a worthy addition to the roster. Reports suggest he’s now staying on the team for the 2025 season, despite leaf returning to his original role. It’s likely babybay will remain as a substitute or take on a role similar to that of a coach, as he tweeted that he’ll “help out the team behind the scenes.”
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leaf had revealed in a tweet of his own that he has Crohn’s Disease and had missed time due to his experiencing the worst flare-up he’s had since he was first diagnosed as a child. This complication following the Masters event in Toronto is why he was unable to play during the Esports World Cup and missed a large portion of Stage 2. The players also revealed that he was discharged from the hospital, hinting at a return that quickly came to fruition.
leaf may have been away from competitive play for the past couple months, but the player is still at the very top of his game. This was displayed by leaf’s spectacular comeback that helped G2 dominate its playoff match against Sentinels. G2 won the series 2-0, and leaf was a key element in the success. The team has now reached the VCT Americas grand final and has a shot to win another trophy and further establish itself among the world’s top Valorant teams.
G2’s current starting Valorant roster:
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