Big esports events in Valorant are memorable to viewers for many reasons. Professional players perform at the peak of their abilities, thereby motivating fans to strive to reach their level. Organizers from Riot Games put on shows that captivate all viewers and rival international sporting events. However, it's not just the aforementioned that attracts fans of the discipline, but also those who comment, analyze, and discuss all the events in major tournaments. Casters are the ones who convey everything that happens on the professional scene to the average viewer, so they can easily be called the main intermediaries between the professional scene and the ordinary viewers.

Despite Valorant being a young discipline and lacking figures as famous as V1lat in Dota 2 or Sjoks in League of Legends, the shooter from Riot has its fair share of both professional and amateur commentators. The most famous among them is Tarik "tarik" Celik, and we will now discuss why.

Professionalism

Tarik is a former professional CS:GO player who, during his career in the shooter from Valve, achieved great heights and won championship titles in several major tournaments. Even though Valorant differs from CS:GO, the core mechanics of both games are similar. His past experience aids him in commentating and dissecting various moments in Valorant because who better than a professional player can informatively discuss intriguing moments and analyze even the slightest mistakes.

Popularity

Interestingly, Tarik's broadcasts surpass in popularity even the official streams from Riot Games. In the recent Valorant Champions 2023, the streamer topped the list for the most hours watched according to Esports Charts. His Twitch stream garnered over 4,600,000 viewing hours, while the official Riot broadcast only reached 2,900,000 hours.

Interaction with the Community

The main difference from official broadcasts is the informality of communication. Tarik is primarily a streamer and not a commentator, so he devotes a significant portion of his attention to his audience. While professional commentators can't interact with the Twitch chat or other platforms, Tarik gladly listens to viewer questions and provides detailed answers when possible. This is especially useful when controversial issues arise, and his audience can immediately hear an expert opinion.

Attitude Towards Casting

Unlike professional commentators and analysts, Tarik views the opportunity to commentate on a match not as work but as a hobby. In a recent interview, he said, “When I stream, I'm just trying to have a good time and call it as I see it. I don't need to make the stream as informative as official channels do. I'm actually just hanging out with the community; we're more laid-back and looking for fun rather than just analyzing the competition.”

Informal Communication

A notable distinction of Tarik from professional commentators is that he allows himself to communicate outside established rules. During his broadcasts, explicit words may sometimes slip through, and his reactions to events during a match are entirely different from the official casters. For instance, during the recent Valorant Champions 2023, while most commentators condemned the trash talk from professional players, Tarik, on the other hand, believes that viewers need some negative emotions, suggesting professionals should be allowed to voice certain words.

Support from Riot Games

Despite Tarik not being a professional commentator, he's closely linked to the official analytics studio. According to him, he acts as a mediator between the community and the official commentators. Tarik asserts that the esports broadcast producers from Riot listen and watch his streams to stay updated about the community and viewer preferences. "They truly care, and they obviously see the value I and my audience bring, but they merely support me, letting me do my thing."

Star-studded Colleagues

On his broadcasts, various famous figures from the professional Valorant scene often join Tarik. He hosts other commentators, streamers, and even professional players, whom he also visits. This gives his audience the chance to interact with many media personalities and sometimes be the first to learn important information. If a celebrity guest decides to share intriguing news, Tarik's viewers will undoubtedly hear about it.

Insights and Rumors

Given his vast popularity and previous esports achievements, Tarik has access to a lot of primary information about the professional Valorant scene. He's among the first to either confirm or debunk rumors about team changes or, at par with insiders, share intriguing upcoming innovations that haven't been announced by Riot Games.

Now you know why we consider Tarik the best caster in Valorant today. Even though he isn't a professional commentator, his content and analysis are engaging, and thanks to his informal communication style, one can discern his stance on various issues, which stands apart from the official Riot Games commentators.

Also read: Valorant Episode 7 Act 2: Changes, Launch Date, and New Content.