The Thrilling Drama of VALORANT Champions: Trash Talk and Rivalries Take Center Stage
VALORANT Champions is the pinnacle of professional VALORANT, where teams compete for the world championship title. This high-stakes event not only showcases the top teams but also provides an opportunity for players to prove their worth and secure spots on tier-one VCT rosters.
As the stage is set for Champions, it’s time to address some burning questions. Will Fnatic dominate this year? Can Paper Rex’s superstar Something live up to the hype? When will China’s dominance take over? And most importantly, when will Sentinels play?
The partnership model of professional VALORANT has given rise to multiple storylines, and Champions offers the perfect platform to explore these narratives. One theme that stands out is the growing regional rivalries, fueled by players and even Riot to some extent, embracing the idea of trash talk. And it’s about time.
Let the Geniuses be Evil
Every story needs a hero and a villain. At the 2023 Champions, Evil Geniuses has fully embraced the role of VALORANT’s villain. Boostio, the new mouthpiece for EG and the bad boy of NA VALORANT, has been leading the charge. Here are some highlights of Boostio’s provocative statements over the past month:
- Declaring that China will never surpass North America (though he failed to inform NRG about this statement).
- Saying at the pre-tournament press conference that Group B is “easy.”
- Predicting that EG would only win eight rounds against FPX (and he definitely meant eight rounds per map).
- Claiming that every EMEA team, except Fnatic, is bad and that the region is fraudulent.
This trash-talking by Boostio has provoked responses from teams and players who would normally take the high road. Bilibili’s Knight responded to Boostio’s comments about China, suggesting that the remarks would have more weight if Boaster had made them. Knight further stated that maybe EG would have won Masters Tokyo if Boaster was their in-game leader.
Boaster, from Fnatic, defended both the EMEA and Chinese teams, expressing his desire to face EG in the playoffs and “t-bag” them back. He stated, “If they want to be the villains, I’m their white knight baby.” Even Paper Rex, a team not known for trash talk, joined the conversation. F0rsaken of Paper Rex mentioned that they want to beat EG early in the playoffs because of their arrogance.
While Boostio takes the lead in trash talk, Demon1 from EG has been backing it up with actions. He has been relentlessly shooting bodies and t-bagging enemy players, even against teams like FPX, whom EG considered inferior. His actions have ignited Chinese fans and fueled the determination of Fnatic’s Alfajer, who promises to t-bag Demon1 at every opportunity.
Other teams have also joined the fray. After defeating Giants Gaming, EDG’s ZmjjKK fired a warning shot at Paper Rex, stating that they don’t care about their strategies and see them as trash. Despite EDG’s loss, their strong words combined with EG’s antics have fueled a sense of rivalry among typically calm players like f0rsaken.
Embrace the Darkness
But why does all of this matter? Simply put, it enhances fan engagement. It’s not just about seeing your favorite teams win; it’s about witnessing their victory over those who arrogantly oppose them. If you delve into the VALORANT communities on Twitter, Reddit, VLR, and other platforms, you’ll find an overwhelming number of fans wishing for EG to eat their words in the playoffs.
And if EG falters and loses, they will face the consequences. Boostio and Demon1 understand the risks involved, and the idea that trash talk is only valid if backed up by performance is outdated. In fact, EG has already proven themselves with a 2-0 start and securing a spot in the playoffs. If they emerge as the victors, the global fanbases will be eagerly awaiting the next season, hoping to witness someone dethrone EG from their throne.
The best villains are the ones fans yearn to see fall. The golden age of competitive Call of Duty can be attributed to the intense levels of trash talk, as players assumed the role of villains for different fanbases. In the world of esports, sustainability is a crucial aspect, and long-term engagement of fans is a key component of its success.
Finding a team to root for is great, but having a team to root against is even better. As long as it remains within certain boundaries (no DMs!), trash talk adds to the excitement and intensity of the competition.
VALORANT, Champions, professional esports, trash talk, rivalry, Evil Geniuses, Boostio, Demon1, Fnatic, Paper Rex, EG, VALORANT community, fan engagement, competitive esports