Earlier this week, Riot celebrated the 2023 Valorant champions, Evil Geniuses, who clinched the title with a 3-1 victory against Paper Rex. However, what could have been a moment of triumph for Riot esports took an unfortunate turn.
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KETTERING, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: An Esport competitor celebrates winning a round during a gaming tournament at the Epic.Lan 38 event on February 25, 2023 in Kettering, England.
Disqualifying The Guard
Sportskeeda reported that the revelation emerged that The Guard, a team that rightfully earned the opportunity to engage in Valorant's global tournaments, will miss out on the 2024 season due to what appears to be an administrative oversight.
In preparation for the 2023 season, Riot executed a significant overhaul of the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), introducing a fresh promotion structure. Within this framework, teams hailing from the three Challengers regions engaged in competition to secure a position in an Ascension tournament.
Triumph in the Ascension tournament for each Challengers region awarded promotion to its respective international circuit. This elevation granted teams access to prominent global competitions like the Masters and Champions tournaments.
Additionally, the perks extended to benefits such as a stipend provided by Riot and revenue sharing. Promotion under this system has emerged as a highly sought-after and fiercely competitive prize for both organizations and players.
This extends beyond the prestige of competing among Riot's carefully selected partner teams, encompassing substantial financial incentives.
Reason Behind Disqualification
In preparation for the Ascension tournament, Valorant esports head Leo Faria stated that each team that qualified formally ratified the Team Participation Agreement, with these endorsements being safeguarded in an escrow arrangement.
Following the conclusion of the Ascension event, the onboarding process was set in motion for the three victorious teams. The expectation was that they would release their escrowed signatures, thereby solidifying their progression to the International Leagues.
Unfortunately, Estnn reported that The Guard faltered in fulfilling this crucial obligation.
Despite diligent efforts encompassing multiple follow-ups over a span of two months, a challenging decision loomed ahead. This decisive action was taken to uphold the integrity of the upcoming season's commencement and to preempt any potential compromises.
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The Guard's Players
The fate of The Guard's players raised significant concerns among external observers. Within the Valorant esports community, The Verge reported that there was a prevailing sentiment of deep dissatisfaction over the prospect of players having nothing to showcase for their relentless efforts.
Furthermore, various voices in the community proposed potential solutions aimed at enabling the players to continue their competitive journey. One proposed remedy involved The Guard's players continuing to compete as a cohesive unit, whether as independent free agents or with the backing of another esports organization.
Addressing this proposition, Faria expressed opposition, citing the fact that the players had participated under The Guard's banner, thereby disqualifying them from being considered free agents.
Faria highlighted the risks associated with allowing another organization to acquire them post facto, emphasizing that such a move could establish a detrimental precedent.
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