This year’s Ascension championships have come to a close, and we now know the name of the lucky team from EMEA that lifted the trophy and earned a spot in the VCT franchised league for at least one year. This is a massive achievement for any Tier-2 team, and Apeks Valorant journey, where they risked everything, is something we’ll break down in detail here.
Quick navigation through the material:
The First Attempt
In 2023, after the announcement of the VCT franchised league and the available paths for organizations to join it, Apeks made a calculated decision to enter the Valorant scene. For the VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe: Polaris, they signed their first roster with the goal of qualifying for Ascension 2023. The lineup included:
As the season progressed, these already well-known players became even more talked about, and for good reason.
Apeks’ 2023 Season
The year 2023 was a mixture of triumph and heartbreak for Apeks. In just one season, the newly formed squad achieved remarkable results: two tournament victories in VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe: Polaris out of two possible events, earning them a well-deserved spot at Ascension 2023. The team secured 25 wins and suffered only two losses—one of which determined their fate.
| Date | Tournament | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-04 | VALORANT Challengers 2023 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 2 | 1st | $7,488.78 |
| 2023-03-12 | VALORANT Challengers 2023 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 1 | 1st | $7,478.31 |
Apeks faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Gentle Mates in the grand final of Ascension 2023, losing 0-3 on maps. This was particularly painful as just two weeks prior, they had beaten the French squad 2-0. The loss in the final meant that all their efforts were in vain since only Gentle Mates secured the VCT slot for the next two years. Apeks would have to start all over again.
| Place | € EUR | Qualifies To | Participant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | €30,000 | 2024 EMEA League, 2025 EMEA League | Gentle Mates |
| 2nd | €20,000 | - | Apeks |
| 3rd | €15,000 | - | Acend |
| 4th | €10,000 | - | SAW |
| 5th-6th | €6,000 | - | Digital Athletics, FOKUS |
| 7th-8th | €4,500 | - | CGN Esports, Team Falcons |
| 9th-10th | €2,000 | - | DSYRE, Case Esports |
Starting Over
Despite their promising run, Apeks found themselves empty-handed at the beginning of 2024. Their entire roster was absorbed into the VCT league but with different teams. Enzo "Enzo" Mestari, Georgio "Keiko" Sanassy, and James "Mistic" Orfila joined Team Liquid, Martin "Magnum" Peňkov moved to Karmine Corp, and Tobias "ShadoW" Flodström signed with KOI. Their coach, Dimitar "Itopata" Staev, headed to Leviatán.
With no roster and no VCT slot at the start of 2024, Apeks had two options: exit the scene or start from scratch again. Based on their Ascension 2024 results, it’s clear they made the right choice.
Attempt Number Two
For their 2024 roster, Apeks approached the situation even more carefully, assembling four seasoned players and one promising newcomer. These players were either free agents or substitutes who hadn't been picked up by other teams. The new lineup featured:
History Repeats Itself
The 2024 season delivered similar results for Apeks: 25 wins and only two losses, but this time neither of those losses proved to be decisive. The team continued their dominance in VALORANT Challengers 2024 Northern Europe: Polaris, claiming both tournament titles and securing a spot at Ascension as the top favorite.
| Date | Tournament | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-26 | VALORANT Challengers 2024 North: Polaris Split 2 | 1st | $3,261.76 |
| 2024-04-22 | VALORANT Challengers 2024 Northern Europe: Polaris Split 1 | 1st | $3,199.47 |
Apeks Goes All-In on Valorant
In the midst of the 2023 season, following VALORANT Challengers Northern Europe: Polaris Split 1, Apeks announced financial difficulties and a decision to leave both Counter-Strike 2 and Fortnite, focusing all resources on their Valorant roster.
All or Nothing
“All or Nothing”—that’s how Apeks and their management approached Ascension 2024. They competed against nine other teams for a single spot in the VCT EMEA franchised league.
Group Stage
The group stage of Ascension 2024 started with a shocker: tournament favorites Apeks lost their first match against GoNext Esports. However, they quickly bounced back, winning all their remaining matches to exit the group stage with a 3-1 record and securing the top spot in their group.
| Place | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apeks | 3-1 |
| 2 | CGN Esports | 3-1 |
| 3 | DSYRE | 2-2 |
| 4 | GoNext Esports | 2-2 |
| 5 | Barça eSports | 0-4 |
Playoffs and Grand Final
Despite the initial group stage hiccup, Apeks went undefeated in the playoffs, securing two wins and advancing to the grand final. Their final hurdle was Turkey’s PACIFIC Esports, who were also eyeing a spot in the franchise league. After five intense maps, Apeks emerged victorious, securing their place in VCT EMEA for at least one year.
| Place | € EUR | Qualifies To | Participant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | €30,000 | VCT EMEA 2025 | Apeks |
| 2nd | €20,000 | - | PCIFIC Esports |
| 3rd | €15,000 | - | CGN Esports |
| 4th | €10,000 | - | The Ultimates |
| 5th-6th | €6,000 | - | DSYRE, Joblife |
| 7th-8th | €4,500 | - | GoNext Esports, MOUZ |
| 9th-10th | €2,000 | - | Barça eSports, SAW |
The Winning Bet
By going all-in on Valorant, Apeks have now achieved success, as they are set to become a full-fledged VCT EMEA participant in 2025. This brings additional revenue streams: profits from branded in-game skins, a share of future Valorant Champions 2025 skins revenue, and other undisclosed forms of support from Riot Games. Apeks players now have the chance to compete against the best in EMEA for spots at international tournaments and the world championship.
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