On December 20, an AMA session concluded with legendary NAVI player Kyrylo "ANGE1" Karasov, covering a variety of topics ranging from personal insights to team dynamics. Among the questions, one fan inquired about his opinion on the current level of competition in Valorant.

Competition in the new season

This year's transfer window was incredibly active, especially in the EMEA region, where 11 out of 12 teams participating in the VCT made roster changes. Some moves were completely unexpected: Derke joining Team Vitality, Saadhak and Less transferring from the Americas to Europe, florescent joining Apeks, and other roster updates that significantly strengthened teams compared to last season.

How do you assess the current level of competition in Valorant?

This year is definitely the strongest, especially in EMEA. I see at least seven teams fighting for first place.

Kyrylo "ANGE1" Karasov

Strengthening rosters

Most teams have significantly bolstered their lineups with newcomers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 scenes, along with international players. Competition has also intensified with the addition of a new team, Apeks, who earned their spot in the league by winning Ascension EMEA 2024. The new season promises to be unpredictable in terms of results and thrilling in terms of gameplay.

READ MORE: ANGE1 on his role in the new Valorant season: "I dont think I gonna play smoker this season"

On January 15, NAVI Valorant will play their first match of the new season against Karmine Corp in the VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff. The tournament will offer two slots for Masters Bangkok 2025 and EMEA circuit points.