The Valorant Champions Tour is a dream for any professional and amateur Valorant player, as it is the place where players can fully reveal themselves, showcasing their skills to their region and the entire world. This year, the tier-1 scene will be enriched with a significant number of young and talented players from the tier-2 scene, whom we will discuss in this article.
In this artice:
Who are the tier-2 talents?
Tier-2 talents are those who compete in Challengers leagues and, due to their persistence, skills, and talent, have managed to attract the attention of top teams in their region, which are part of the VCT franchised league. Often, these players are young but ambitious and willing to spend time training to make a name for themselves on the big stages, thus becoming a promising option for clubs, as they can stay at their peak for a long time due to their age.
Why are tier-2 talents important for Valorant’s development?
The tier-2 scene may be behind the scenes, as all the attention is on the tier-1 teams, but it is the core of the Valorant discipline, and here’s why:
Expansion of competition: Thanks to new teams and players in tournaments, a healthy competitive atmosphere is created, raising the level of play. New stars: Many of today’s best players started in Tier-2 teams and only later joined top collectives. New perspectives on the game: Tier-2 players are generally more liberated in strategy than in the tier-1 scene, where any match can affect the club’s future.
Tier-2 talents who signed with top clubs
Americas
Zander
Alexander "Zander" Dituri is a newcomer to 100 Thieves, joining the team on October 8 after his contract with M80 expired. He spent over two years with them, almost winning Ascension in 2023 and 2024 but failing to reach VCT with the team. However, he managed to do so independently, showcasing his skills and earning a chance to play for 100 Thieves.
Verno
mada
Adam "mada" Pampuch, a former Moist x Shopify duelist, fought for a chance to prove himself on the tier-1 stage for four years, competing in various teams at tier-2 events. In this year’s transfer window, he joined NRG. It’s worth noting he has played for the renowned club Luminosity Gaming, but after the franchised league was implemented, he had to start from the bottom again, climbing his way to the top, which he achieved. Now, he just has to seize this opportunity.
EMEA
xeus
The fight for Doğan "xeus" Gözgen was fierce among the top EMEA clubs due to his talent and potential as a future star. However, because of his limited English, the primary language of many teams, he signed with FUT Esports, where he can communicate in his native Turkish. He will replace cNed, raising high expectations, and we will see if he can handle it at the VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff.
kaajak
It took Kajetan "kaajak" Haremski four years to get the chance that thousands of Valorant players dream of — reaching VCT and showcasing himself on the tier-1 stage. Kaajak played on the tier-2 scene for four years, but in 2024, he joined Apeks and became the Ascension champion. His VCT journey will continue with Fnatic, and his former team will now become his rival.
LêwN
Burak "LêwN" Alkan is another Turkish talent who we will follow on the tier-1 scene in 2025. During Challengers Turkey, he established himself as versatile and skilled and will now play alongside the legendary player Jamppi in BBL Esports.
avez
Hazem "avez" Khaled is a nineteen-year-old player from Egypt who will be making his debut on the tier-1 scene in 2025. His team will be Karmine Corp, which announced his signing on November 10. Avez will be playing alongside experienced players such as Saadhak and Suygetsu.
Pacific
gyen
Koki "gyen" Nakamura is a newcomer not only to the tier-1 stage but to Valorant in general. He joined DetonatioN FocusMe on October 15, 2024, and this is his first professional team. He already played with the team at the Red Bull Home Ground #5 APAC Play-ins, where they placed 3rd-4th, but his main tournaments lie ahead in 2025.
Akame
Yu "Akame" Gwang-hui is another newcomer to DetonatioN FocusMe, who previously played for REJECT and earned $4,800 in prize money over his career. His debut at the Red Bull Home Ground #5 APAC Play-ins was unsatisfactory, with an average ACS below 200 points.
HYUNMIN
patrickWHO
Mark "patrickWHO" Musni is another newcomer to the scene who became part of Global Esports and will represent the club in the VCT Pacific League in 2025.
The Trio from FENNEL
Hikaru "CLZ" Mizutani, Shota "SyouTa" Aoki, and Yuto "Xdll" Mizomori have been playing together for two years. Before joining ZETA Division during this year’s transfer window, they played for FENNEL, where they were one of the main favorites in the Japanese Challengers league, although they couldn’t secure a victory at Ascension Pacific. You can read more about the transfer and the expectations of ZETA Division for 2025 in our exclusive interview with their head coach — Ivan "Johnta" Shevtsov.
Unconfirmed Tier-2 Transfers
As the transfer window is still open, there are rumors about other tier-2 players who have reportedly reached agreements with VCT clubs, though there has been no official announcement of their joining yet. Below is a list of players who might also play for top clubs in 2025:
2025 Could Be a Breakthrough Year for Young Players
Since the inception of the Valorant esports discipline, professional teams have favored more experienced and media-present players, rarely considering young prospects. However, this trend is beginning to shift, and 2025 could be a peak year in this regard. In 2024, Team Heretics demonstrated that young players can and want to win. The team consists of four players under the age of 21, and they already became world silver medalists in 2024 after playing together for only one season. It’s noticeable that after this success, organizations have reconsidered their priorities and have also started scouting, looking not only at established professionals but also at those just starting their journey and proving themselves on the tier-2 scene.
Comments