Acend’s Incredible Comeback in VCT Champions
The VALORANT team, Acend, displayed remarkable mental fortitude in the finals of VCT Champions. Despite being one round away from losing to Gambit, they made a spectacular comeback in the best-of-five series.
Acend faced a daunting challenge down two maps to one, particularly after suffering a crushing 13-3 defeat on Fracture. Many teams would have crumbled under such pressure, but Acend saw it as an opportunity to recharge and reset.
In the post-match press conference, Zeek shared, “We took the Fracture loss as nothing. We were laughing in the middle of the match…cracking jokes, having a lot of fun on stage.” This relaxed and easy-going attitude proved pivotal in Acend’s comeback on Icebox.
Despite being down 12-11 and on the back foot, Acend played with confidence and treated it like any other round. They went on the offensive, securing a crucial victory in overtime on Icebox and eventually finishing the series on Split.
Acend’s success can be attributed to their mentality. BONECOLD emphasized, “We never let it get to our nerves. You can see the results when we just play without pressure, and we just play for fun.”
The team’s mental coach, Thomas Quaade, played a significant role in building their confidence and helping them play without pressure. BONECOLD praised Quaade, saying, “He has done the most amazing job to make us the team we are right now.”
Quaade, who has experience coaching elite sports players and teams, emphasized the importance of trust. He stated, “Esports is dependent on communication…If we don’t trust the information we get, how are we going to be able to perform?”
Throughout VCT Champions, Acend faced challenges, including a controversial replay match and backlash from fans. However, they remained resilient and focused on their goal. BONECOLD reflected, “We came from groups to quarters to even to semis as a massive massive underdog…but we never lost the momentum.”
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Acend, VCT Champions, VALORANT, mental fortitude, comeback, best-of-five series, Icebox, Split, mentality, mental coach, Thomas Quaade, trust, pressure, esports