What to expect in the Valorant esports scene in 2023
Valorant is among the biggest esports in the industry today alongside League of Legends and CS:GO. The fact that it is a first-person shooter (FPS) will appeal to players because winning each round necessitates a satisfying display of accuracy and skill. Since Riot Games first released Valorant, the game’s player base has significantly expanded, especially when improvements are made.
More players find it interesting to play the game and see what new elements are in store for them as it continues to reinvent itself. Riot Games made sure that fans and players would have something to look forward to when it came to their major competition in addition to the yet-to-be-announced game developments.
If you’re curious about the game’s esports scene and what the Valorant Championship Tournament (VCT) 2023 will entail to getting the most out of your Sportsbet bitcoin, read on:
Valorant Champions Tour 2023
Valorant’s future as an esports game, according to Riot Games, depends on how the new structure is put into place. By 2023, Challengers can access international leagues and even global events thanks to the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). Learn more about the changes Valorant 2023 will bring about:
Region consolidation
The consolidation of the participating regions into three major ones is one of the biggest changes that the VCT will bring about. Instead of the previous regions, players can now choose to be classified as belonging to the Americas, Pacific, or Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The competition will now be played differently as a result of several new rules that come with this change.
These are the countries that will fall under each region:
Americas
- North America
- North Latin America
- South Latin America
- Brazil
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)
- North Europe
- South Europe (Spain, Portugal, and Italy)
- France and Benelux
- Dach (Germany, Austria, Turkey and Switzerland)
- Eastern Europe
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Pacific
- South Asia and India
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Korea
- Japan
- Chinese Taipei
- Hong Kong
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Oceania
Valorant partner team-ups
Partner teams for Valorant were a significant change made by Riot Games. Major tournaments like the Masters and the Champions will only feature the top teams in line with the franchising model. Before being rotated out after two years, all partner groups will stay in their current positions.
Teams will have two years to strategically arrange their personnel and administrative details for Riot’s upcoming partner team selection process. Due to the partners’ two-year commitment, the teams will be scrutinised more and given less latitude for any offensive language.
Riot has announced 30 partner teams for the upcoming season as of 2022, and they intend to add one more team for each league year until 2027 when there will be a total of 42 teams. The region that triumphs at the kickoff event, which is scheduled for February in Sao Paulo, will receive the first supplementary slot for 2023.
The total quota for the region for the year 2023 will include this slot. The new laws might make fans switch their support from their national teams to those in their regional divisions.
New schedule
Riot is also modifying the VCT schedule for 2023. The new format will be introduced at the event in Sao Paulo in February. Here, a three-week VCT LOCK//IN tournament, one of Valorant’s biggest events, will be taking place with the participation of 30 partner teams. The winning team will be given a spot at the Masters.
Following the competition, the partnered teams will be divided among the three major leagues. Instead of numerous Masters events spread throughout the year, there will only be one Masters event this year, scheduled to take place in June.
For their last chance to qualify for Champions, which will happen sometime in August, teams will compete in a last-chance qualifier (LCQ). There will be a total of three LCQs to be held.
The remaining schedule will be divided into the Challengers’ schedule and the international schedule. Here’s what it will look like:
International Schedule
- Valorant Challengers 2023: Japan Split 1 (Jan 28 – Mar 19, 2023)
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Seoul, the Republic of Korea Pacific League (Mar 26 – May 28, 2023)
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Los Angeles, USA Americas League (Mar 26 – May 28, 2023)
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Berlin, Germany EMEA League (Mar 26 – May 28, 2023)
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Latin North America LAN Stage 2 Challengers (Apr 25-Jun 11, 2023)
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Latin South America LAS Stage 2 Challengers (Apr 25-Jun 11, 2023)
Challengers Schedule
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Latin America – North LAN Stage 1 Challengers (Feb 27 – Mar 31, 2023)
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: Latin America – South LAS Stage 1 Challengers (Feb 27 – Mar 31, 2023)
LOCK//IN Schedule
- Valorant Champions Tour 2023: São Paulo, Brazil LOCK//IN (Feb 13 – Mar 04, 2023)
Teams to watch out for this VCT 2023
The VCT changes will undoubtedly increase fans’ interest in the games. The following are some of the top teams entering the 2023 VCT if you’re thinking about placing a wager on the games:
DRX
DRX unquestionably serves as the current representative of Korea in the Valorant scene. They have an outstanding record in regional and international competition. Despite finishing in third place behind OpTic and LOUD, the players continue to astound with their flawless teamwork during their latest performance. Therefore, it is not unexpected to anticipate that DRX will continue to hold the top spot in this updated format for 2023.
Byung-chul ‘BuZz’ Yu and Kim ‘MaKo’ Myeong-kwan are DRX’s best combination on the field. BuZz can be just as a lethal swift agent and operator combo as Derke or yay because he plays with a fierce fearlessness that at times makes him seem almost unstoppable. On the other hand, Mako is a tight defender that has turned the tides for the team several times.
Sentinels
The most well-liked club in the scene has returned with a revamped lineup to defend their title after a disappointing 2022 campaign in which they frequently finished at the bottom of North American league competition. It was a far cry from their world championship-winning 2021 campaign, which was flawless. SEN would need to reload their guns if they wanted to reclaim their greatness.
The team kept Tyson ‘TenZ’ Ngo and Hunter ‘SicK’ Mims, two of its top duelists. Additionally, they added Rory ‘dephh’ Jackson, a seasoned IGL, and Zachary ‘zekken’ Patrone to their roster, giving them a strong foundation. Additionally, they hired Gustavo ‘Sacy’ Rossi and Bryan ‘pANcada’ Luna, who were both on the LOUD team that won the 2022 Valorant Champions.
Fnatic
Before 2023, Fnatic made a lot of moves, renewing established players and bringing in fresh talent. Mainstays Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett and Nikita ‘Derke’ Sirmitev, who have both participated in each of the team’s five international VCT events, have been leading Fnatic’s most recent iteration.
They are joined by Emir ‘Alfajer’ Beder, a Turkish duelist and sentinel who joined in the summer of 2022 and remained with the team despite the off-season roster changes. Leo ‘Leo’ Jannesson, a 19-year-old from Guild Esports, and Timofey ‘Chronicle’ Khromov, who most recently played for Gambit Esports and M3 Champions, are among the players who were added during the offseason. Once the VCT begins, Fnatic is a force to be reckoned with.
LOUD
Thanks to their electrifying team and dedication, LOUD was able to outperform the competition and win the title of Valorant Champion. The loud Istanbul crowd, who had just witnessed their heroes hoist the championship, was shocked to learn from LOUD that Sacy, pANcada, and head coach Matheus ‘bzKA’ Tarasconi would be leaving the club for the upcoming season.
Losing the trio may dash LOUD’s chances of winning again, but it shouldn’t prevent them from continuing to be one of Valorant’s top squads. Indeed, LOUD still features stalwarts like Matias ‘Saadhak’ Delipetro, Erick ‘aspas’ Santos, and Felipe ‘Less’ Basso. For the upcoming season, they will make up one of the youngest starting lineups in the Americas along with Cauan ‘cauanzin’ Pereira and Arthur ‘tuyz’ Vieira, two additional young players.
Agents you will see more in the competitive scene
Agents from Valorant are renowned for being distinctive and skilled, offering players a variety of playstyles. It’s undeniable how most agents get updates and upgrades. In 2023, it’s anticipated that certain Valorant agents will continue to advance:
Raze
Even though Raze was given a nerf in the most recent patch for Valorant 2022, players still adore using her because she is one of the most potent agents. That does not change in the coming meta in Valorant 2023.
A skilled user of hers can destroy the opposing squad thanks to her emphasis on dealing damage. She’s great for gamers of all aggression levels and a great choice for those who prefer games with a more subdued tone.
Sova
In addition to being a dangerous opponent, Sova’s arrows can provide you with all the necessary map information. His recon arrows will be of great use to you and your team. You only need to throw one over a wall to identify your opponents.
Sova is one of the top agents that many players enjoy due to his adaptable play, regardless of the meta. Fans anticipate that Sova will receive some minor updates to further improve his skills as 2023 approaches.
Witness the best Valorant games in 2023
The Valorant esports scene is full of exciting developments. It’s time to decide which teams are the best for Sportsbet betting and enjoy what Riot Games has in store for the future of its most well-known first-person shooter game with 2023 just around the corner.
