Former Crazy Raccoon captain neth closes his pro chapter and returns to the organization as a content creator
JAPAN – Yusuke “neth” Matsuda has officially retired from professional play, concluding a career that stretched across Counter-Strike Online, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and VALORANT. The 29-year-old steps away after a long competitive run, ending on a high with qualification for Red Bull Home Ground 2025 in New York. He will return to Crazy Raccoon as a streamer from now on.
neth’s career in VALORANT began during the game’s early years with the core of BlackBird Ignis, known as Japan’s second-best CS lineup behind the legendary Absolute roster, the group that would later form the foundation of ZETA DIVISION. Shortly after several strong showings in domestic events, neth was signed by Crazy Raccoon, where he enjoyed his most successful period domestically.
The 2021 season alone saw him lift the Masters Stage 1 Japan trophy and qualify for every international event VALORANT had to offer that year: Masters Reykjavík, Masters Berlin, and Champions Berlin. While CR didn’t manage to do much damage internationally, neth became one of the earliest faces representing Japanese VALORANT internationally, setting the stage for the country’s growth before ZETA DIVISION captured hearts with their Cinderella run the following year.
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Following four seasons with CR, neth went on loan to DetonatioN FocusMe for VCT Pacific 2024. The campaign was a difficult one, with only two wins against T1 and ZETA DIVISION. In 2025, he returned to Japan’s tier-two scene with FENNEL, finishing 4th in Split 1, 2nd in Split 2, and winning Split 3. However, the roster narrowly missed promotion after placing second in the Season Finals, falling short of VCT Ascension Pacific qualification.
Before announcing retirement, neth won the Japanese qualifier for Red Bull Home Ground 2025, securing a slot at the main event held in New York, though the roster fielded a different lineup and he did not participate.
With retirement announced, neth will remain active in the scene under the Crazy Raccoon banner as a streamer and content creator, sharing that he hopes the next generation of young players will continue chasing the dreams he fought for. He plans to stay involved through VALORANT-focused streaming and related activities.
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Cover photo courtesy of Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
