Right here is every part it is advisable to know concerning the VCT Ascension winners who will compete in Tier 1 leagues for the following two years
From Challengers Qualifiers in January 2022 to the tip of VCT Ascension in July 2023, lots of of groups all world wide participated within the journey to change into tier 1 contenders of VALORANT, and solely three succeeded. The Guard, Light Mates and BLEED, amongst these VCT Ascension champions, you’re most definitely aware of the North American roster. When you’re wanting to be taught extra about all of them, we’ll undergo every workforce’s historical past, their Challengers run, and every part else there’s to cowl. Let’s be taught the tales of the Ascension Americas, EMEA and Pacific winners who will be part of the Tier 1 competitors in 2024 and 2025.
The Guard – Americas Ascension Winner
Credit score: Riot Video games
- Jacob “valyn” Batio (IGL)
- Michael “neT” Bernet
- Jonah “JonahP” Pulice
- Trent “trent” Cairns
- Ian “tex” Botsch
- Josh “JoshRT” Lee (Head Coach)
The Guard should not new to worldwide levels, as they competed in Masters Reykjavik in 2022 by successful the North American Challengers with a stellar type. From the darkish horse of the area, they shortly turned the favorites, defeating groups like Sentinels, 100 Thieves and even the mighty OpTic Gaming within the Grand Finals.
Questioning how a number of “rookies” toppled a few of NA’s greatest?
Get a better take a look at our workforce and #VCT journey to date.#StandGuard pic.twitter.com/b9Ty1k3ZYT
— The Guard – VCT ASCENSION CHAMPIONS 🏆 (@TheGuard) March 14, 2022
Sadly, at their first LAN event, the workforce obtained overwhelmed by the fierce skills from completely different areas, failing to get a single win and leaving Iceland fairly shortly.
Challengers League North America
After the low season of 2022, Guard reminded the North American crowd that they’re prepared for one more yr of competitors by successful the Ludwig and Tarik Invitational in opposition to T1, Sentinels and TSM. They had been again to dominating the B-tier scene of North America with an awesome run within the NA Challengers League.
The Guard persistently held the second-best place within the Challengers. Within the first spot was a brand new workforce consisting of proficient upcoming gamers – M80. The Canadian roster posed a risk to Guard, as they had been proving to be stronger when it comes to their win charges and even defeated trent’s squad within the Grand Ultimate.
Ascension Americas
M80 and The Guard – the Finalists of VCL NA obtained a ticket to VCT Ascension Americas, and securing a spot in VCT Americas 2024 and 2025 would require defeating groups from Brazil, Argentina, and others who’ve additionally proven dominance of their regional Challengers event.
Guard went undefeated in Ascension, successful the Grand Ultimate in opposition to acquainted faces at M80. Wanting again at their 2022 run, they are going to be one of many favorites at VCT Americas 2024, with the potential of reaching world tournaments comparable to Masters and Champions.
Light Mates – EMEA Ascension Winner
Credit score: Riot Video games
- Beyazıt “beyAz” Körpe (IGL)
- Logan “logaN” Corti
- Nathan “nataNk” Bocqueho
- Jonathan “TakaS” Paupard
- Wailers “Wailers” Locart
- Kévin “Ex6TenZ” Droolans (Head Coach)
Light Mates had been one of many latest groups within the French VALORANT scene, with Kévin “Ex6TenZ” Droolans main the workforce as the top coach, who was a well-regarded IGL in Counter-Strike. In April this yr, they signed the group SBG to start the group’s journey in VALORANT with Ex6TenZ.
Challengers League France Revolution
Earlier than getting signed, SBG loved an honest run within the Splits, with a 14-4 document within the Cut up 1. They confronted VALIANT and Obligatory within the Playoffs, and neither of them may defeat this new rising energy.
They continued this type in Cut up 2 after which obtained signed by Light Mates in Week 2. With already a variety of circuit factors to their title, the roster didn’t must do an excessive amount of to safe an Ascension spot. Nevertheless, Light Mates didn’t wish to let go of their unbelievable type, ending the Cut up 2 Common Season with a 13-5 document and going unbeatable once more within the Playoffs.
Ascension Americas
The French group obtained positioned in Group B in Ascension EMEA’s Group Stage, the place they secured second place with a 3-1 document, dropping solely to Apeks, who had been on prime undefeated. Going into the Playoffs, groups like Acend and Apeks had been the most important threats to Light Mates, and after beating Acend within the Decrease Ultimate, they had been confronted in opposition to Apeks within the Grand Ultimate.
Apeks had been the favorites of EMEA Ascension, and earlier than the Grand Ultimate, they didn’t lose a single match on the occasion, and it appeared like they had been going to change into the following EMEA League participant. Light Mates shocked the area by not solely successful the ultimate Bo5 however doing so in a really dominant 3-0 style. Logan “logaN” Corti secured the MVP with an unbelievable 63-33 Okay-D efficiency on Sentinels of all Brokers.
In contrast to The Guard, Light Mates shall be new to tier 1 of their VCT 2024 debut, and they are going to be stamped with the “underdog” title amongst famous person squads like FNATIC, Liquid and NAVI, who’ve been dominating the European fields for a while now.
BLEED – Pacific Ascension Winner
Credit score: Riot Video games
- Ngô “crazyguy” Công Anh (IGL)
- Derrick “Deryeon” Yee
- Tyler “juicy” Aeria
- Nutchaphon “sScary” Matarat
- Marcus “Nephh” Tan
- Nikola “LEGIJA” Ninić (Head Coach)
BLEED is a Singaporean roster that began their VALORANT competitors in September 2021 by buying UwU, a workforce that had been doing very effectively in VCT SEA’s Season 3.
Right here comes the celebration!
Now we have simply signed our very first esports workforce and we’re excited to welcome members from the Group UwU roster!@Chrysaniaa
@jarpixVAL @LEXYVAL_
@FirstLoveVal @hopfrostyzOur first sport shall be at KJC Internationals! See you there @KJCeSports
— Bleed Esports (@ggBleed) September 30, 2021
The remainder of 2021 went effectively for the workforce as they managed to win quite a few low season matches, preparing for his or her flip in APAC’s Challengers occasion. Sadly, even after making the Playoffs in each seasons of the Challengers League, BLEED had been stopped of their tracks by Paper Rex and XERXIA. Following their poor type within the APAC Final Likelihood 2022, BLEED determined to let go of their lineup.
[1/2🧵] All through our year-long journey in #VALORANT, we skilled the best of highs and the bottom of lows.
With a heavy coronary heart, we wish to announce that we are going to be releasing our roster efficient instantly, as we proceed to construct for the longer term. pic.twitter.com/SScpdiBLpC
— Bleed Esports (@ggBleed) August 15, 2022
Challengers League Malaysia/Singapore
Quick ahead to the Malaysia/Singapore Challengers League in 2023 – BLEED are outfitted with a brand new lineup with former X10 and XERXIA member sScary of their squad. Their Cut up 1 regarded unbelievable with a 6-1 run within the Group Stage and an undefeated Playoffs.
Cut up 2 was even higher, as no workforce matched the ability of this Singaporean squad, they usually loved a clear 7-0 run to the Playoffs, the place they had been as soon as once more unbeatable of their journey of securing an Ascension spot.
Ascension Pacific
BLEED had been anticipating to lastly meet their match at Ascension, the place robust groups from the Challengers occasions of Japan, South Korea, Thailand and a number of other different APAC areas had been able to change into the following Asian franchised roster. With a 3-1 run within the Group Stage, the Singaporeans secured Playoffs amongst ten different groups.
Ascension’s Playoffs didn’t pose any problem to this skillful group of gamers, transferring previous BOOM Esports with a 2-1 lead whereas enjoying Reyna on Pearl. Their Grand Ultimate match was set in opposition to SCARZ, one other wonderful squad that made splashes within the Japanese tier 2 scene. SCARZ didn’t stand an opportunity within the Grand Ultimate as BLEED secured the win in a dominant 3-0 Bo5 with sScary’s unbelievable clutches.
.@sScaryOfficial ENDS HAVEN WITH AN ACE AND THIS INSANE 1v4 CLUTCH #VCTAscensionPacific
📺 https://t.co/h4MPtwXkRl pic.twitter.com/kmXJpw5J9r
— VCT Pacific @ LCQ (@vctpacific) July 9, 2023
Whereas the Pacific areas have robust world names like Paper Rex and DRX, there are numerous groups nonetheless looking for their place within the tier 1 scene. Amongst these type of uncertainties, BLEED are going to discover a good place as a newcomer with so much to show in subsequent yr’s Pacific League.
Thinking about these groups’ future journeys and protection of different VALORANT occasions? Keep updated with ESTNN.