Recently, the Valorant scene witnessed a remarkable event: a team that started from the lowest ranks of the esports ladder, specifically the Challengers league, not only made its way into the VCT franchise league but also achieved such impressive results that they secured a spot at the Valorant Champions 2024 tournament. In this article, we will take you through the journey of G2 Esports, formerly known as The Guard, who faced significant challenges that at one point threatened their participation in VCT Americas.
The Birth of The Guard
The Guard's journey began back in 2021 with their first roster, of which only Jacob "valyn" Batio remains on the current G2 Esports lineup. Over time, the team underwent roster changes, bringing in new players who replaced the old ones. This formed the core of the team, which has strived to stay together since then. Shortly after these changes, The Guard started showing results, with their first major achievement being qualifying for their first international S-tier tournament, the VCT 2022: Stage 1 Masters - Reykjavík, where they finished 7th-8th.
Following this tournament, the team's performance significantly declined, and they lost their leading position on the North American scene. This resulted in them missing the next international tournament and ultimately failing to qualify for Valorant Champions 2022 after losing in the grand final of the Last Chance qualifier to 100 Thieves.
A New Era
The 2022 season came to an end, and Riot Games announced major changes to the Valorant esports ecosystem, establishing the VCT franchise league across three regions: EMEA, Americas, and Pacific. These leagues were reserved for the top organizations in their respective regions. Unfortunately, The Guard did not secure a spot, and despite their strong performance in the previous season, the team lost the opportunity to compete in international tournaments throughout 2023, as they were only invited to the Challengers league, a lower-tier competition.
Despite this setback, the team remained hopeful and motivated. After making one roster change before the season started by signing Ian "tex" Botsch, The Guard set a new primary goal: to return to the tier-1 North American scene and prove that they deserved to compete for spots in international tournaments and the world championship.
The Challenging Path: How The Guard Secured the Only Slot in VCT
The new VCT system is highly appealing to many teams. With fewer participants, organizers find it easier to manage the league and avoid issues. Teams benefit from additional funding through revenue sharing from in-game item sales and other income sources. However, the esports scene includes not only tier-1 teams but also lower-tier teams and amateurs. For these teams, the new system presented a real challenge, as they had to compete throughout an entire season, which lasts a year, for the single slot available in the VCT, limited to a two-year term (reduced to one year starting next season).
Throughout the season, The Guard was not the top contender even in Challengers NA but consistently placed in the top three. They finished all four tournaments in the top three, though they didn't win any of them. Despite this, the team secured a place in Ascension Americas, where the top six teams from across the Americas competed for the single coveted slot in the VCT for the next two years.
Despite their struggles in Challengers NA, The Guard immediately showed their determination to win at Ascension. They went undefeated until the grand final, where they secured a 3-1 victory over M80, another NA region representative. However, this victory could have turned into the biggest disappointment of the players' esports careers.
The Uncertain Future of The Guard
After The Guard's triumph and the emotional high from such a significant achievement, Riot Games released news that outraged not only the players but the entire Valorant community. The announcement stated that due to issues with document preparation, The Guard did not meet the requirements to participate in the franchise league. As a result, the company made the difficult decision that no team would be promoted from the Challengers league to the VCT. This statement sparked widespread criticism towards Riot Games, as it was seen as unfair to the players. The community began demanding that Riot Games allow the players to find a new organization or grant the slot to the team that finished second at Americas Ascension.
Stepping Up to a New Level
Following the community's outcry, Riot Games reversed their decision and allowed the players to terminate their contracts with their current club and find a new one to compete in VCT Americas. The players successfully found a new home, bringing a familiar name to the global Valorant scene - G2 Esports. The entire former Guard roster, except for Ian "tex" Botsch, transitioned under the new banner, with Nathan "leaf" Orf joining as their new teammate. The full G2 Esports lineup now includes:
A Strong Start for G2 Esports
The first tournament for the revamped roster under the new banner was the VALORANT Champions Tour 2024: Americas Kickoff. Despite it being their debut, G2 Esports managed to hold their own against the top teams from across the Americas, finishing in fifth place. Although this didn't qualify them for the first international tournament of 2024, the situation changed at the second tournament—VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai. G2 Esports earned their spot thanks to their second-place finish at VCT 2024: Americas Stage 1. Before this, the team signed a new player, Jacob "icy" Lange. The refreshed roster placed third among the top 16 teams in the world at their first international tournament, but this was only the beginning of their accomplishments in 2024.
A Major Achievement for the Season or Just a Warm-Up?
Thanks to their second-place finish at VCT 2024: Americas Stage 2, G2 Esports secured a spot at this year's world championship, making them the first team in history to climb from the Challengers league not only to the franchise league but also to Valorant Champions. This tournament is the most prestigious of the season, as it brings together the best teams from the four competitive regions to compete for the world champion title and a significant prize pool of $2.25 million.
Given that G2 Esports finished third at the previous international tournament, their qualification for the world championship might be just a warm-up, with their ultimate goal being a spot among the top three.
Conclusion
The journey of G2 Esports, the former core of The Guard, is a testament to how perseverance, teamwork, and belief in one's abilities can lead to the highest achievements, despite the challenges they faced. These challenges could have led to complete disappointment and the end of their careers. We wish G2 Esports continued success, but as they are not full-fledged partners in the franchise league, the team will need to prove each season that they deserve their spot. Otherwise, Riot Games may leave them out of the VCT.
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